Acute And Chronic Pain Management

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) invites applications for a research funding opportunity focused on Acute and Chronic Pain Management through osteopathic medical approaches. This grant, offering up to $100,000 in total funding, supports a 24-month project period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. The initiative aligns with the AOA's strategic priorities to enhance the scientific foundation of osteopathic medicine by supporting research projects with clear clinical relevance and a patient-centered focus. The overarching goal is to advance the visibility and distinctiveness of osteopathic medicine through clinical, interventional, and translational research. This funding opportunity targets research that evaluates the osteopathic approach to both acute and chronic pain, placing particular emphasis on treatment methods and patient outcomes. Topics of interest include the role of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), and Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) in managing pain, reducing opioid use, and examining biomarkers associated with treatment efficacy. The AOA requires that all proposals employ a biopsychosocial model of pain, considering physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual factors. Patient outcomes may be measured by medication usage, functional status, cost analyses, and bio-physiological metrics. Applicants are encouraged to include collaborative partnerships and subject matter experts, especially for projects that are protocol-driven or pragmatic in design. Proposals must articulate a clear hypothesis and study methodology with evidence-based or evidence-informed rationales. All interventions should be supported by consistent data collection plans and clearly defined reporting protocols to ensure reproducibility and scalability. Investigators must include robust plans for data analysis, including statistical power analyses, and demonstrate how findings will contribute to evidence-based osteopathic care. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based researchers, including DOs, MDs, PhDs, and other doctoral-level professionals, with the requirement that a DO be listed as key personnel. The program excludes applicants from private practice, including sole-owner LLCs, as well as students, residents, and those with outstanding deliverables from previous AOA funding. Research must be conducted within the United States and on U.S. populations. Each investigator may serve as Principal Investigator on only one application per cycle but may participate as a Co-Investigator on others. Unsuccessful applicants may submit the same project up to two additional times for reconsideration. Applications must be submitted through the AOA’s online system by 11:59 PM CST on January 31, 2026. Awards will be announced in June 2026, and funded projects will commence on July 1, 2026. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. While this NOFO does not explicitly state recurrence, its alignment with AOA’s annual funding cycles implies that it may be reissued in future years. All funded projects must result in a manuscript submitted to the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (JOM), which holds the right of first refusal. For inquiries, applicants should contact Gloria Dillard, MPH, Director of Research Grants, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (312) 202-8006. Additional instructions and guidance are available in the general AOA Research Grant Application Instructions.

The AOA encourages collaboration within the osteopathic community and seeks to enhance the visibility of the osteopathic profession.