AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC SOCIETY GRANT: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC SOCIETY FOR SPORTS MEDICINE RETURN TO PLAY CLINICAL RESEARCH GRANT REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS & GRANT GUIDELINES REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), under the auspices of its Research Committee, and in coordination with and generous support from Arthrex, The Aircast Foundation, The Forum, and J. R. Gladden Sports Medicine, is offering one grant of up to $200,000 to support a clinical research project investigating return to play after musculoskeletal injury.

Studies investigating clinical outcomes related to accelerated return to play utilizing innovative technology and techniques are strongly encouraged and will be a factor in the review process. Studies investigating primarily focusing on concussions are not eligible for this grant opportunity.

OBJECTIVE:

Applications must describe a study that investigates clinical human research on return to play after musculoskeletal injury. Criteria and metrics utilized in the study must be determined by best scientific evidence and designed to improve the understanding of and research evidence regarding improved return to play parameters. Study participants from any sport or type of sport (e.g. pivoting, contact, overhead), at any age or level of participation, and with common musculoskeletal injuries are ideal for this grant opportunity. Studies utilizing diverse or previously understudied cohorts of patients are strongly encouraged.

RESEARCH PRIORITIES:

• Studies developing a decision-making assessment tool for current activity and return to play activity, including physical performance and objective/subjective criteria and metrics.

• Studies that utilize contemporary technologies that enable cost-effective decision-making and are deployable on a large scale (e.g. mobile apps, web-based interfaces).

• Studies that assess existing valid and reliable scales, with sport-specific subscales, and their utility in decision-making for return to play.

• Studies employing an orthopaedic device/product (per intended indication for use) to accelerate rehabilitation and return to play.

• Studies investigating interventions (e.g. different surgical procedures) that improve rate of return to play.

• Studies investigating return to play by performance, biological, clinical, or imaging metrics.

• Studies of technologies that predict a return to play (e.g. app development, cloud-based, wearable technology).

• Studies performed by a diverse research team and/or advocates for diverse patient populations.

FUNDING:

This program provides a one-time award of $200,000 to be disbursed over a 24-month period. The start date of the funded project will be no earlier than August 1, 2024 and should be completed in a 24 to 30- month period. No-cost extensions may be requested. Mentoring from The Forum and JRGSM is available for the awardee and upon request.

ELIGIBILITY:

The PI must be a licensed orthopaedic surgeon in the United States working in an institution in the United States. Any investigative team seeking this grant must include at least one member of AOSSM AND The Forum OR the J. R. Gladden Sports Medicine in good standing. No AOSSM Board officer (e.g., President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, etc.) may be a named investigator on any application. There is no requirement for Principal Investigators to have obtained peer-reviewed funding.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 31st, 2024 at 11:59pm Eastern