Osteopathic Distinctiveness RFA/NOFO

About this program

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), through its Bureau of Osteopathic Research and Public Health, invites proposals for patient‑focused clinical, interventional, and translational research grounded in osteopathic tenets and the biopsychosocial philosophy, with awards up to $100,000 for projects conducted July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028. Studies should determine whether osteopathic approaches translate into improved outcomes such as compassion/empathy, patient–physician communication, patient satisfaction, or reductions in health disparities/social determinants of health; both protocol‑driven and pragmatic designs are eligible. Eligible applicants include experienced investigators, new investigators, physicians in training, and osteopathic medical students, with preference for proposals that include appropriate collaborators and subject‑matter experts. Interventional studies must include evidence‑based or evidence‑informed rationales, consistent data‑collection and diagnostic reporting procedures across providers, and methods to assess reliability of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to support reproducibility and scalability.