Research & Policy


Arthritis Foundation/AOFAS Research Grants

 

AOFAS and the Arthritis Foundation (AF) are pleased to announce a new partnership to fuel ankle osteoarthritis research. The AF/AOFAS Ankle Arthritis Think Tank Research Grants provide substantial funding to support innovative clinical research that advances knowledge toward treatments to stop or slow ankle osteoarthritis

Grant awards are exclusive to AOFAS members. Recipients will be expected to present scientific results at AOFAS and AF meetings as well as submit a manuscript for publication in an AOFAS scientific journal.

Letters of Intent must be submitted by March 1, 2023, through the Arthritis Foundation online portal. Complete applications are due April 1, 2023.

Start Your Application

Please contact the Arthritis Foundation at AFscience@arthritis.org with any questions.


Program Information


Grant Description

This grant invites proposals for clinical research projects with a budget of up to $200,000 spread over two years. Proposed budget must limit indirect (F&A) expenses to 8%.

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 biomechanics for prevention or treatment of ankle osteoarthritis

  • 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:

  • 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 Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics (FAO)

  • Utilize data and results of the project to submit for large institutional funding (NIH, DoD, PCORI, VA, and others)

  • For clinical trials, follow additional regulations including 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


Application Process

All applications should be submitted using the Arthritis Foundation online portal set up for this program. The first step is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) (two-page limit) that describes how your idea fits the overarching goals of this program and outlines at a high level the impact you expect from the work. LOIs will be evaluated to confirm each applicant's eligibility for subsequent application submission.

After the LOI is approved, you will be invited to complete the application. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on April 1, 2023. Any application that is submitted after deadline, incomplete, or failing to otherwise adhere to instructions, will be administratively declined.

The portal does not check for page length or other formatting requirements. If any instructions are not followed, proposals will not be peer reviewed. Accuracy and completeness of the content including following maximum space limits, formatting, and other instructions are the responsibility of the applicant.

The signature page must be electronically signed and applicants must click the "Submit" button on the online portal prior to the deadline. Once the application is submitted, applicants will receive an automatically generated confirmation email that the application was submitted. Please plan ahead to submit your application in advance of the deadline to allow time for any submission process troubleshooting required of the applicant.


Timeline

  • March 1: Letters of Intent due (must be submitted through the Arthritis Foundation online portal)

  • April 1: Complete applications due (must be submitted through the Arthritis Foundation online portal)

  • September 1: Grant awards announced

  • January 1: Earliest project start date


Questions?

Please contact the Arthritis Foundation at AFscience@arthritis.org.