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 requested budget should reflect the actual needs of the project, with a limit of $3,000. 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 3 sections. All sections should be combined into a single PDF not to exceed 10 pages in length. Identifying information should only be included on the title page (Page 1 of the PDF). All other sections should be deidentified to ensure a fair review process. Applications that do not adhere to these instructions (including those that are over 10 pages) will be rejected and will not be considered for review.

  1. PDF Page 1: Title Page. Please provide the following information on the first page. This is the only page where identifying information should be provided (this page will be deleted prior to sending the application out for review by the committee members).
    • Project Title
    • Name of Applicant
    • Current Position/Title of Applicant
    • Applicant Institution
    • Applicant Email Address and Phone Number
    • Name of Mentor (if any)
    • Current Position/Title of Mentor (if any)
    • Mentor Institution
    • Available Resources to Conduct the Project. If you project needs any equipment, please provide a description of all the equipment (including lab space and lab equipment) that is available to conduct the project. If your project uses human subjects, please list all the clinical resources (including clinic availability, staff, etc) that will be available to conduct the project.
  1. PDF Page 2 – up to Page 9: Description of study (not to exceed 8 pages)
  • Use 11 or 12 point, arial font and standard (1-inch) margins
  • Include the following sections. Together, information for all combined bullets should NOT exceed 8 pages in length.
    • Abstract
    • Plans for future funding
    • Background and relevance of project to the field of orofacial pain
    • Aims of the Project
    • Study design, materials, and methods
    • Brief data analyses plan and anticipated outcomes
    • Study timeline
    • References/Citations
  1. PDF Page 10 (or sooner): Detailed budget describing how grant funds will be used. This must be in USD. Applications that present their budget in another currency, or applications who request more than $3,000, will be rejected and will not be considered for review.

Email all application materials as a single PDF to ian.boggero@uky.edu with the subject line "AAOP Grant Opportunity"

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 January 31, 2026. 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 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 1, 2026 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.

In the event that 2 or more applications score equivocally, 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. All other AAOP members (including affiliate members)

Applicants are only able to receive one AAOP grant at each of the following career stages. Applicants who have already received an AAOP grant at that career stage will not be eligible to submit another grant at that career state. These career stages only apply to the applicants; mentors are not limited from submitting multiple applications:

  1. Dental Student
  2. Resident in a dental specialty program (including Orofacial pain Residents)
  3. Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  4. Associate Professor (or equivalent)
  5. Full Professor (or equivalent)
  6. Distinguished Professor

Private practice practitioners are eligible to apply again 5 years after receipt of an award for up to 6 awards.