AAOP Research Grant Application

Application Form

Application Instructions for AAOP Research Grant Funding


Any research project that will further the basic and/or clinical science of orofacial pain (especially non-odontogenic pain) is welcome.  Priority will be given to projects that generate high-quality preliminary data for future funding opportunities that have potential for addressing innovative and significant questions in the field. The funding limit per grant is $3000, although the requested budget should reflect the actual needs of the project. Funds may be used for items such as, but not limited to:

  • Research materials
  • Payments to patients
  • Cost of conducting research (i.e., laboratory space, facilities, etc)
  • Statistical analyses

Funding may not be used to support travel or AAOP membership.

A complete application includes the following:

  1. AAOP Research Grant Application Form, including biographical information of applicant
  1. Description of study
  • Use 11 or 12 point, arial font and standard (1-inch) margins
  • Include the following sections. Together, bullets 1-7 (abstract through plans for future funding) should NOT exceed 8 pages in length. There is no page limit for bullet 8 (references):
    • Abstract
    • Background and relevance of project to the field of orofacial pain
    • Aims
    • Study design, materials, and methods
    • Brief data analyses plan and anticipated outcomes
    • Study timeline
    • Plans for future funding
    • References
  1. Detailed budget describing how grant funds will be used.

Email all application materials to ian.boggero@uky.edu with the subject line “AAOP Grant Application”

Please note that only complete applications which comply with page-limit restrictions will be considered.

Application Process & Timeline


The Research Grants Committee reviews applications annually. Submissions for the upcoming review session are due by 11:59 PM Eastern time on February 28th, 2025. Applicants whose submissions are accepted for review will be notified by email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Ian Boggero (Chair of the Research Grants Committee) at ian.boggero@uky.edu.

There are 3 possible outcomes of the review process. The committee may elect to:

  • Fund the project
  • Decline to fund the project
  • Request that the applicant revise the protocol and re-submit for supplementary review

Applicants will be notified by March 31, 2024 as to which outcome applies to their submissions.

Applicants who are invited to revise and re-submit for supplementary review will be given two weeks to re-submit. If the revised protocol is not received in that time, then the applicant may submit the project for the following year’s review session.

The applicant’s professional status/affiliations will be considered in the review process, prioritized as follows:

  1. Residents and Fellows in CODA-approved Orofacial Pain postdoctoral programs
  2. Junior faculty members (less than 5 years) in Orofacial Pain programs or in dental schools with responsibilities in Orofacial Pain teaching/patient care
  3. AAOP members