Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee (LBORC)

Research Grants Program Introduction

Grant Process                                                                              Grant Forms

The AAO has funded pilot research within the profession for many years. The major purpose of research programs funded by the AAO is to:

• Generate and support research that develops and promotes an understanding of the philosophy, concepts and efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM); and to
• Develop and maintain the research capacity of the profession through support and training for researchers including all aspects of uniquely Osteopathic research. This is to include but is not limited to bench top physiological models research, educational standards development, practice guidelines research, normative data collection, and clinical research. LBORC will not fund machine or equipment engineering R&D. Equipment development and engineering design research is explicitly excluded from this venue though assistance in obtaining funding from other sources may be obtained through the LBORC.

 

Research Grants

The AAO recognizes the value of all areas of biomedical and educational research. However the resources and facilities of the profession are limited and direct research funding must focus on those areas of research that investigate the unique aspects of osteopathic medicine. The breadth of this research focus may include but is not limited to:

1. Mechanisms of Action of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
2. Clinical Efficacy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
3. Inter- and Intra-rater reliability of palpatory/sensory assessment
4. Cost effectiveness of osteopathic health care
5. Osteopathic physician - patient interactions 
6. Methods of teaching palpation, sensing, diagnosis and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
7. Collection of normative data in Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques
8. Validation of Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques specific research methodology

 

The LBORC will be using the American Osteopathic Association research applications, guidelines and manuals as recommended by the American Osteopathic Association Council on Research (COR). The COR was charged with developing a professional standard set of research tools that would serve as a highly discriminating set and serve to educate our professions applicants as to the type and quality of applications required at a national level of performance.

 

Additional funding is occasionally made available for unique circumstances in sponsoring Osteopathically significant professional projects and or interactions that are otherwise not fundable through Profession resources. This may include but is not limited to Travel for American Academy Osteopathy representation at high profile events, historical preservation of rare artifacts or libraries, and other uniquely osteopathic functions that may not be directly research related. These are decided upon on a case by case basis though there will be a uniform method of submission for review using application materials from the American Osteopathic Association research manual and a modified review process. For a complete description of the priorities of the AAO Research Grants programs, please consult the AOA Research Handbook and/or consult with the officers of the LBORC.

 

Grant Funding

Grant applications are accepted on an annual basis and have a submission deadline of 2 months prior to the American Academy Osteopathy Convocation or 2 months prior to the American Osteopathic Association Annual National Scientific Seminar. Funding decisions are approved or declined by the AAO Board of Trustees at their meeting following LBORC recommendation. All funding opportunities must clear funding capacity with the Finance committee and the respective research endowment funds of the American Academy Osteopathy prior to disbursement. The LBORC will recommend funding for research proposals with budgets up to $10,000 per year; investigators should not expect to be funded for more than two years on a single project and must provide a budget plan at the time of submission explaining the need for a 2 year time frame and defining the budgetary needs as clearly as possible. At the discretion of the committee, a recommendation of a lower amount for funding may be offered and/or the American Academy Osteopathy Board of Trustees may elect to reduce the amount of funding recommended by the committee. Either case will be explained in writing to the grant recipient.

 

The AAO provides monies for research projects which satisfy the specific purposes of established investment funds.

• The William L. Johnston, DO, FAAO Research Fund was established with the express purpose of supporting clinical research. The LBOR Committee recommends the following uses for the fund: to pilot research proposals that investigate (a) inter-examiner reliability studies; (b) use of validation instruments; and (c) defining somatic dysfunction in terms of basic science physiology and biochemistry.
• The Samuel V. Robuck Fund was established to provide for osteopathic care in the pediatric service of the Academy, underwriting educational programs and research projects dedicated to pediatric health care.
• The Floyd J. Swift Osteopathic Education Fund provides expenditures to perpetuate and improve upon the study of and therapeutic use of, osteopathic manipulative therapy.
• The Foundation for Osteopathic Research and Continuous Education (FORCE) was established to: promote research and education, emphasizing the integration of osteopathic principles, practice and manipulative treatment in patient care; and the raising of funds in support of these research and education objectives.