Research Funding FAQs

Get the basics

Answers to your questions about the AOA’s research grant program

Learn how to navigate the application process and make a lasting contribution to the field of osteopathic research.

The AOA provides grant funding to DO, MD, PhD and osteopathic medical student researchers conducting studies that address areas of study identified by the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Research and Public Health and approved by the Board of Trustees. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions regarding the AOA’s Research Grant Program.

AOA-funded research will address the tenets of osteopathic medicine and advance the distinctiveness of the osteopathic profession through patient-focused research projects.

Results of funded research studies will be submitted in manuscript format for publication to the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (JOM), the official scientific publication of the AOA. Funding recipients are required to give the JOM first right of refusal on research findings generated via the grant.

Select a question below:

When does the project start?

The start date for all grant projects is July 1 (revised from Sept. 1).

Can Principal Investigators (PIs) with an existing AOA grant apply for another grant or would they be barred from applying for another grant until their existing grant project is completed?

An investigator with an active AOA grant who is in the first year of his/her existing grant period is ineligible to apply. A previous or current AOA investigator who has failed to meet milestones and/or submit timely progress and financial reports is ineligible to apply.

Can I access a previously declined grant application?

Yes, you can access a previously declined grant application, but you cannot resubmit it; you will need to submit a new application.

Is there a projected total number of awards anticipated or an anticipated number of awards for each RFA?

At this time, we have not projected a total number of awards or a total number per RFA. We do anticipate receiving at least the same amount as we did in the last grant cycle.

Is an investigator limited to serving as a PI on only one application (RFA) per grant cycle?

Investigators can be a PI on one application (RFA) per grant cycle. However, they may serve as the co-investigator on multiple grant proposals.

What are the project’s allowable expenses?

Please review the Grant Application Instructions Budget section document to learn what the AOA will and will not fund. Use the following links to access the appropriate grant application instructions overview document:

What are the organization’s or institution’s responsibilities?

Please review the Grant Application Instruction document. These guidelines are updated periodically, so it is highly recommended that they are regularly reviewed. Use the following links to access the appropriate documents:

When are grant awards announced?

The grant awards will be announced annually in June.

Does my project have to have IRB approval before I submit my grant application?

No, your project does not need IRB approval before you submit your grant application, but if your grant is approved for funding, you will need to submit your IRB approval letter to the AOA before you receive your grant disbursements.