Research grants
As part of the individual research career development program for clinicians, the AO Foundation regularly offers funding opportunities for clinical studies as well as basic and applied research projects that address highly relevant clinical problems.
The calls within this framework are generally open to clinicians from all clinical departments of the AO—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO CMF, and AO VET.
Detailed information on the geographic scope and eligibility criteria such as the research area focus can be found in the individual guidelines of the respective call.
Funding opportunities
AO Foundation offers various funding opportunities for Research Grants.
Open calls
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AO CMF Start-Up Grant 2025 - Submission deadline: February 17, 2025Type: Start-up grant
Scope: AO CMF supports projects in a wide range of research fields including unconventional and novel projects. It favours projects related to basic, preclinical, and clinical research in the fields of trauma and reconstruction in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgery.
Geographic scope: Global
Apply here
Eligibility:
Its primary aim is to provide individual support to young clinicians (< 40 years old) to increase awareness of research and provide training in the fundamentals of research processes as part of their research career development.
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, and AO CMF—who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• Within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg, MD, DVM, PhD, etc), or
• Within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or
• Enrolled in residency programs or fellowship
IMPORTANT: You must have an active Membership of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF)
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information guidelines:
The AO CMF Research Grant provides stand-alone seed funding up to CHF 50,000 with a maximum duration of 2 years to support innovative research projects. -
AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa Research Mini Grants 2025 - Submission deadline: January 15, 2025Type: Mini grant
Scope: Innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma.
Applicants who apply for a topic related to the CPP topics “non-union” or “patient outcome” may have the opportunity to be involved in the CPP network.
Geographic scope: Europe and Southern Africa
Apply here
Eligibility:
Its primary aim is to provide individual support to young clinicians (< 40 years old) to increase awareness of research and provide training in the fundamentals of research processes as part of their research career development.
Applicants must be residents of a country in the Trauma Europe and Southern Africa region.
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, and AO CMF —who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• Within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg, MD, DVM, PhD, etc), or
• Within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or
• Enrolled in residency programs or fellowship
IMPORTANT: You must have an active Membership of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF)
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information guidelines:
AO TESA Mini Grants provide funding up to CHF 15,000 per grant, for a maximum two years to support innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma. -
AO VET Seed Grant 2025 - Submission deadline: March 31, 2025Type: Start-up grant
Scope: AO VET supports projects in a wide range of research fields including unconventional and novel projects. It favours projects related to basic, pre-clinical, and clinical research.
Geographic scope: Global
Apply here
Eligibility:
Its primary aim is to provide individual support to young clinicians (< 40 years old) to increase awareness of research and provide training in the fundamentals of research processes as part of their research career development.
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, and AO CMF—who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• Within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg, MD, DVM, PhD, etc), or
• Within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or
• Enrolled in residency programs or fellowship
IMPORTANT: You must have an active Membership of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF)
Its mission is to provide predominantly seed money and favours researchers in the early part of their career. Senior investigators are not eligible for this program.
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information guidelines:
AO VET Seed grants provide support up to CHF 7,500 with a maximum duration of one year. -
AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Mini Grants 2025Type: Mini grant
Scope: The AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Grants provide, stand-alone seed funding of up to CHF 5,000 for a maximum duration of one year to support innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma.
Geographic scope: Middle East and Norther Africa
Online submission tool opens in January 2025
Eligibility:
Its primary aim is to provide individual support to young clinicians (< 40 years old) to increase awareness of research and provide training in the fundamentals of research processes as part of their research career development.
Applicants must be residents of a country in the Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa region.
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, and AO CMF—who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• Within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg, MD, DVM, PhD, etc), or
• Within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or
• Enrolled in residency programs or fellowship
IMPORTANT: You must have an active Membership of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF)
Its mission is to provide predominantly seed money and favors researchers in the early part of their career. Senior investigators are not eligible for this program.
Guidelines:
Detailed guidelines will be published in January 2025.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information guidelines:
The AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Grants provide, stand-alone seed funding of up to CHF 5,000 for a maximum of one year.
Closed calls
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AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Grant – Submission deadline: September 30, 2024Type: Seed grant
Scope: Non-union--including infection
Geographic scope: Regional (Middle East and Northern Africa)
Eligibility:
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine and AO CMF —who are younger than 40 years old and:
1) within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg, MD, DVM, PhD, etc), or
2) within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or
3) enrolled in residency programs or fellowships
4) member of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine or AO CMF)
Financial information guidelines:
The AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Grant provide one-year, stand-alone seed funding up to CHF 4,000 to support innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma, and related basic and clinical research with scope on non-union including infection. -
AO VET Research Seed Grant – Submission deadline: May 12, 2024
Type: Seed grant
Scope: Projects in a wide range of research fields including unconventional and novel projects
Geographic scope: Global
Eligibility:
Young investigators (< 40 years old) who are:
1) within five years of the completion of their terminal degree (eg MD, DVM, PhD, etc) or
2) within five years of initiation of their first assistant professor position at an academic institution or
3) enrolled in residency programs or fellowships.
Financial information guidelines:
AO VET seed grants provide support up to CHF 7,500 with a maximum duration of one year. AO VET highly encourages applicants to submit small grant proposals. For example, investigators may consider seeking funds to support primary or secondary data analyses, systematic reviews with meta-analyses, or manuscript preparation. -
AO VET / ARI Collaborative Research Grant Program – Submission deadline: May 12, 2024Type: Seed grant
Scope: The topic of the research proposal should relate to unanswered questions in veterinary and/or comparative orthopedics, and the methods that are to be used should be aligned with the resources and expertise available within ARI - Investigators will ideally participate actively in the physical completion of the study at ARI or they may ask collaborators at ARI to complete the research on their behalf while remaining actively engaged in carrying the research throughout its duration.
Geographic scope: Global
Eligibility: The principal investigator must be an active, paid-up member of AO VET at the time of grant submission.
Financial information guidelines:
Available funds are limited, and investigators are advised that proposed annual budgets should not exceed CHF 35,000 for a period of up to 12 months. It is anticipated that up to two awards will be granted in the 2025 funding cycle. Follow-on funding for a second year may be available but will be determined through a competitive application in the next award cycle. No overhead contributions are made to the submitting organization.
Funded projects
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AO CMF
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AO VET
"Our clinical divisions are committed to supporting young talent, emphasizing the importance of research, and providing comprehensive training in research methods. Discover a wealth of exciting opportunities, including financial grants, specialized training modules, and prestigious research fellowships."
Anita Ignatius
