Program Information
Grant Description
This grant invites proposals for clinical research projects with a budget of up to $250,000 spread over two years. Proposed budget must limit indirect (F&A) expenses to 8%. Indirect costs should be included in the total budget amount.
Research proposals should focus on innovative clinical research that advances knowledge toward treatments to stop or slow ankle osteoarthritis (including hindfoot). A goal of this grant is to support research that will build data needed
to secure funding from large institutional sources (such as the NIH, DoD, PCORI, VA and others). Clinical studies must utilize patient reported outcomes, with use of complementary imaging and/or clinical samples being highly encouraged. Studies should
comply with clinical and institutional review board (IRB) requirements. Animal
studies are not allowed.
Proposed research may include, but is not limited to:
Optimization of foot and ankle alignment or ankle ligamentous stability for prevention or treatment of ankle OA
Slow/stop adjacent joint arthritis in ankle or hindfoot, including subtalar joint
Development of tests or assays using clinical specimens to detect the early stages of ankle osteoarthritis
Development of therapeutics, including “orthobiologics,” that could modify the course of ankle osteoarthritis
Genetic susceptibility to ankle osteoarthritis
Database studies
Grant recipients will be expected to:
Participate in AATT meetings, which are expected to occur annually; meetings may be virtual or in-person
Present progress updates at AOFAS and AF meetings as well as prepare annual reports to be submitted to the AF proposal management platform
Submit manuscript detailing results of the project for consideration to be published Foot & Ankle International (FAI) or another high-quality peer-reviewed journal in the fields of orthopaedic surgery, arthritis, or a related discipline.
Utilize data and results of the project to submit for large institutional funding (NIH, DoD, PCORI, VA, and others)
For clinical trials, additional regulations that need to be observed include the registration of clinical trials within 21 days of protocol approval on ClinicalTrials.gov
Eligibility
Access to this research grant is a benefit of AOFAS membership. The principal investigator on the application must be an AOFAS member in good standing in the United States. Co-principal investigators are allowed. Principal investigators based in non-US
entities and non-US components of US organizations are not eligible to apply.
Eligible organizations include:
Higher education institutions, including public/state-controlled and private institutions
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education)
Non-domestic (non-US) entities (foreign institutions) and non-domestic (non-US) components of US organizations are not eligible to apply
Timeline
March 2: Letters of Intent due (must be submitted through the Arthritis Foundation online portal)
April 17: Complete applications due (must be submitted through the Arthritis Foundation online portal)
September: Grant awards announced
January: Earliest project start date
Questions?
Please contact the Arthritis Foundation by email at [email protected].