The Acute and Chronic Pain Management call for proposals from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) supports patient-focused research applying the osteopathic approach to acute and/or chronic pain management, emphasizing treatments and patient outcomes. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The identification and investigation of the role of biomarkers in understanding how OMT works mechanistically on patients and defining how biomarkers can be used as a reliable measurement of pain reduction.
- The role of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMM/OMT), Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP), as well as other osteopathic modalities such as touch and communication in addressing pain management.
- The effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMM/OMT) and/or Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) on reducing opioid prescribing and/or consumption.
Applications are open to Osteopathic Physicians (DO) or MD, PhD, or other individuals holding an equivalent doctoral degree. Applicants not affiliated with an osteopathic institution must have a DO as key personnel on the Research Team. Investigators must be conducting research in the United States.
All proposed projects must utilize a biopsychosocial model. Preference will be given to proposals that include collaboration with appropriate partners and subject matter experts. Both protocol and pragmatic studies will be considered.
The award provides up to 100,000 USD over 24 months.
Applications close on January 31, 2026.