The AOSSM Research Mission
To enhance value in sports medicine through the development, promotion, and encouragement of cutting-edge research that improves patient care.
AOSSM grant opportunities and application forms are available on Proposal Central. Request for Applications (RFA) and grant guidelines can be accessed for each AOSSM grant opportunity. All applicants must login or create a Proposal Central account to apply for AOSSM grant opportunities.
2026 Grant and Research Awards Cycle
| Name | # | Award Amount | Call for Submissions | Submission Deadline | Submission Review | Announcements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOSSM-AF Hip Osteoarthritis Grant | 1-3 | $250,000 each | LOI March | April 17 | April | LOI review in April; Full submissions Invited by May 1 |
| Full Proposals: May | June 26 | August | September | |||
| JRF Ortho Allograft Grant | 1 | $50,000 | March | August 1 | August/September | October |
| Steven P. Arnoczky Young Investigator Grants | 1 Basic 1 Clinical | $40,000 $40,000 | Pre-Proposals: March | May 15 | June | Pre-review done in July; Full Submissions Invited |
| Full Proposals: July | September 20 | October | November | |||
| Sandy Kirkley Clinical Outcomes Research Grant | 1 | $25,000 | March | July 31 | September | October |
| Playmaker Grant Lab | 1-2 | $25,000 each | Letters of Intent: March | May 15 | July (At Annual Meeting) | July (At Annual Meeting) |
| Cabaud Memorial Award | 1 | $5,000 | Abstracts: July (with Annual Meeting Abstract Submission) | September 3 | October | Pre-review done in October and finalists selected |
| Full Manuscripts: November | January 1 | January | March | |||
| O’Donoghue Sports Injury Award | 1 | $5,000 | Abstracts: July (with Annual Meeting Abstract Submission) | September 3 | October | Pre-review done in October and finalists selected |
| Full Manuscripts: November | January 1 | January | March | |||
| Excellence in Research Award | 1 | $2,000 | Abstracts: July (with Annual Meeting Abstract Submission) | September 3 | October | Pre-review done in October and finalists selected |
| Full Manuscripts: November | January 1 | January | March | |||
| Bart Mann Award | 1-2 | $5,000 | Submit any time throughout the year | July 31 | August | September |
AOSSM offers the following to support continued research in orthopaedic sports medicine:
AOSSM-AF Hip Osteoarthritis Grant
In collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation, AOSSM will offer up to three grants ($250,000 each) to fund studies addressing an important clinical problem focused on hip pathology and the rapid development of osteoarthritis. The goal of this funding mechanism is to support studies that will establish or advance a programmatic line of research that can become competitive for major external funding (e.g. NIH, PCORI, DOD).
Steven P. Arnoczky Young Investigator Grant
This grant opportunity offers up to $40,000 to support an orthopaedic sports medicine clinical research project for early career Principal Investigators AND one grant of up to $40,000 to support an orthopaedic sports medicine basic science research project for early career Principal Investigators. The grant also aims to help train early-career surgeons to lead research projects, from hypothesis generation to experiment design, execution, and result interpretation, with guidance from an experienced mentor or team.
AOSSM-JRF Ortho Allograft Grant
In coordination with and support from JRF Ortho, AOSSM is offering one grant of up to $50,000 to support a basic science or clinical research project to advance insight into meniscal or osteochondral allografts. Applications must describe a basic science or a clinical research project surrounding viable Osteochondral Allograft (OCA) transplantation or meniscus allograft transplantation of the knee. Criteria and metrics utilized in the study must be determined by best scientific evidence or best demonstrated practices and designed to improve the understanding of, and research evidence regarding, OCA or meniscus allograft transplantation. Proposals with translational or advancement of clinical care will be reviewed favorably.
Sandy Kirkley Clinical Outcomes Research Grant
Dr. Sandy Kirkley championed rigorous randomized controlled trials in orthopaedic sports medicine. She believed the field should match the evidence standards of nonsurgical specialties. In her honor, a $25,000 grant offers seed or supplemental funding for outcome research or pilot studies.
Playmaker Grant Lab
Sponsored by The Aircast Foundation and Haslam Sports Innovation Center
This research grant opportunity aims to advance exploratory projects by providing start-up funding, seed money, bridge/gap funding, or supplemental funding for an ambitious investigative team. Criteria and metrics utilized in the proposed study must be determined by best scientific evidence and designed to improve the understanding of an emerging or novel technology in orthopaedic sports medicine. Studies involving human subjects will receive priority.
2026 MAST Research Initiative Grant
In collaboration with the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and the Society for Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS), this grant opportunity provides $150,000 for research in orthopaedics pertaining to the military population or general population.