Research grants
Learn about AO's research grant funding opportunities. Detailed information on the geographic scope, eligibility criteria, and research focus areas is available in the individual guidelines for each call.
Funding opportunities
AO Foundation offers various funding opportunities for research grants.
Open calls
-
Call for Applications - AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Mini Grants 2026 – Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: Mini grant
Scope: The AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa Research Mini 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 Northern Africa
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility criteria for the Principal Investigator:
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. Applicant must be a citizen of, or be entitled to reside in a country of the AO Trauma Middle East and Northern African region.
• Only MENA - residents can apply.
• Applicants must be < 40 years old.
• Applicants must hold an active membership in one of the AO clinical divisions (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF): Our community.
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information:
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. -
Call for Applications - AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Mini Grants 2026 – Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: Mini grant
Scope: AO Trauma offers regular funding opportunities for applied research that supports clinical issues. We are continually seeking to define new treatment methods and guidelines to improve patient care and publish valuable information and outcomes. The AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Committee is pleased to announce the call for the AO Trauma Research Mini Grants.
Geographic scope: Asia Pacific
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be citizens of a country in the Asia Pacific region. This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Recon, AO Spine, AO CMF, or AO VET —who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• The applicant or one of the applicants of the research group MUST be an AO TAP council member; or
• The applicant or one of the applicants of the research group MUST be AO Trauma Asia Pacific faculty.
• Paid member of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO CMF, or AO VET): Our community.
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information:
The AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Grants provide, stand-alone seed funding of up to CHF 8,000 for a maximum of one year to support innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma. -
Call for Applications - AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa Research Mini Grants 2026 – Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: Mini grant
Scope: AO Trauma offers regular funding opportunities for applied research that supports clinical issues. We are continually seeking to define new treatment methods and guidelines to improve patient care and publish valuable information and outcomes.
The AO Trauma ESA Research Committee is pleased to announce the call for the AO Trauma Research Mini Grants.
Geographic scope: Europe and Southern Africa
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria for the Principal Investigator:
• Only ESA-residents can apply.
• Applicants must be < 40 years old.
• Applicants must hold an active membership in one of the AO clinical divisions (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF): Our community.
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information:
The AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa Research Grants provide stand-alone seed funding of up to CHF 15,000 for a maximum duration of two years to support innovative projects in the field of musculoskeletal trauma. -
Call for Applications - AO Trauma Latin America Research Mini Grants 2026 Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: Mini grant
Scope: AO Trauma Latin America offers research mini grants to support innovative projects in the field of musculoskeletal trauma. Mini grants are specifically allocated to scientific services. The approved resources are managed by the regional office and paid directly to the providers, rather than to the Principal Investigator.
Geographic scope: Latin America
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility:
This call is open to surgeons from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO Recon, AO VET, and AO CMF. The Principal Investigator or applicant must meet the following criteria:
• 40 years old or younger.
• Citizen of, or be entitled to reside in a country in the Latin America region.
• AO active member of any clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF): Our community.
• Up to ten years after completing their terminal degree (e.g., MD, DVM, PhD), ten years after beginning their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or while currently enrolled in a residency or fellowship program.
Guidelines:
Guidelines
Terms and conditions Latam
Financial information:
AO Trauma Latin America Research Mini grant provides for each funds up to CHF 5,000 to develop innovative research dealing with musculoskeletal trauma, which must be developed within a maximum of two years.
Funds may be used to cover research consumables, scientific services and attendance at one national or international conference to present this study.
-
AO CMF Start-Up Grant 2025 - Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CET
Type: 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
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility criteria for the principal investigator:
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 < 40 years old.
• Applicants must hold an active membership in one of the AO clinical divisions (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF): Our community.Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information:
Details will be provided by November 2. -
Call for Applications - AO VET Seed Grant 2026 - Submission deadline: February 16, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: 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
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility criteria for the Principal Investigator:
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.
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.
• Applicants must be < 40 years old
• Applicants must hold an active membership in one of the AO clinical divisions (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF): Our community.
Guidelines:
Please review carefully the detailed guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information:
AO VET Seed grants provide support up to CHF 7,500 with a maximum duration of one year. -
Call for Applications - AO VET / ARI Collaborative Research Grant Program 2026 - Submission deadline: March 23, 2026, at 23:59 CETType: Collaborative Research Grant Programme
Scope: The research proposal should address unanswered questions in veterinary or comparative orthopaedics.
Grant applications will only be considered for research studies in which the experimental components are conducted entirely at the AO Research Institute, Davos (ARI).Geographic scope: Global
Link: Application link will open by November 19, 2025.
Eligibility:
Applicants must identify ARI collaborators in their proposal prior to submission.
To assist in identifying suitable collaborators and estimating project costs, applicants should contact Dr. Stephan Zeiter: (stephan.zeiter@aofoundation.org).February 23, 2026 Deadline to contact ARI (Stephan Zeitner) to pre-discuss project proposal and budget March 23, 2026 Application deadline June / July Inform applicants about selection outcome
Financial information:
The available funds are limited, and investigators are advised that proposed 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 2026 funding cycle (Project executed in 2027). Follow-on funding for a second year may be available but will be determined through a competitive application in the next award cycle.
These amounts of money are available on a competitive basis to investigators who wish to undertake experimental work for their research study at the AO Research Institute (ARI), Davos.
No overhead contributions are made to the submitting organization.
Funded projects
-
AO CMF
-
AO VET
-
AO Trauma
Closed calls
-
AO VET Seed Grant 2025 - Submission deadline: April 30, 2025 - 23:59 CETType: 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 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 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 / ARI Collaborative Research Grant Program 2025 - New Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025 - 23:59 CESTType: Collaborative Research Grant Programme
Scope: The topic of the research proposal should relate to unanswered questions in veterinary and/or comparative orthopaedics, 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
Apply here
Eligibility:
Applications that involve collaboration with the ARI must be approved by its director prior to submission. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to provide a written confirmation from the Director of ARI with the application. Investigators are encouraged to contact Dr. Stephan Zeiter, ARI representative to the AO VET R&D Commission, at Stephan.zeiter@aofoundation.org for assistance at least 2 weeks prior to submission. If the work involves collaborations with other AO institutions (e.g. AO Innovation and Translation Centre, AO Technical Commission, and AO Expert Groups) letters of support from the director of the relevant institution should be provided to confirm budget and/or staff commitments.
Guidelines
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
Project will be executed in 2026 -
AO Trauma Latin America Research Mini Grants 2025 – Round 2 - Submission deadline: June 30, 2025 . 23:59 CESTType: Mini grant
Scope: AO Trauma Latin America offers research mini grants to support innovative projects in the field of musculoskeletal trauma. Mini grants are specifically allocated to scientific services. The approved resources are managed by the regional office and paid directly to the providers, rather than to the Principal Investigator.
Each project is eligible to receive up to CHF 5,000 and must be developed within a maximum of two years.
Geographic scope: Latina America
Apply here
Eligibility:
This call is open to surgeons from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO Recon, AO VET, and AO CMF. The Principal Investigator or applicant must meet the following criteria:
• 40 years old or younger.
• Residents of a country in the Latin America region.
• AO active member of any clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF).
• Up to ten years after completing their terminal degree (e.g., MD, DVM, PhD), ten years after beginning their first assistant professor position at an academic institution, or while currently enrolled in a residency or fellowship program.
Guidelines:
Guidelines
Terms and conditions Latam
Financial information guidelines:
AO Trauma Latin America Research Mini grant provides for each funds up to CHF 5,000 to develop innovative research dealing with musculoskeletal trauma, which must be developed within a maximum of two years.
Funds may be used to cover research consumables, scientific services and attendance at one national or international conference to present this study. -
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. -
AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Mini Grants 2025 - Submission deadline: June 30, 2025 – 23:59 HK TimeType: Mini grant
Scope: AO Trauma offers regular funding opportunities for applied research that supports clinical issues. We are continually seeking to define new treatment methods and guidelines to improve patient care and publish valuable information and outcomes.
The AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Committee is pleased to announce the call for the AO Trauma Research Mini Grants
Geographic scope: Asia Pacific
Apply here
Eligibility:
Applicants must be citizens of a country in the Asia Pacific region.
This call is open to investigators from all AO clinical divisions—AO Trauma, AO Recon, AO Spine, AO CMF, or AO VET —who are younger than 40 years old and who are:
• The applicant or one of the applicants of the research group MUST be an AO TAP council member or
• The applicant or one of the applicants of the research group MUST be AO Trauma Asia Pacific faculty
• Paid Member of a Clinical Division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO CMF, or AO VET)
IMPORTANT: Principal Investigator must have an active Membership of a clinical division (AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO VET, or AO CMF)
Guidelines:
Guidelines.
For projects with animal models review the animal model guidelines.
Financial information guidelines:
The AO Trauma Asia Pacific Research Grants provide, stand-alone seed funding of up to CHF 8,000 for a maximum of one year to support innovative projects dealing with musculoskeletal trauma. -
AO VET Seed Grant 2025 - Submission deadline: April 30, 2025 - 23:59 CETType: 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 2025 - Extended submission deadline: Juli 21, 2025 - 23:59 CESTType: 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
Apply here
Eligibility:
The primary aim is to support young clinicians (< 40 years old) and raise awareness of research while providing training in research fundamentals for career development.The primary aim is to support young clinicians (< 40 years old) and raise awareness of research while providing training in research fundamentals for career development.
Applicant must be a Citizen of, or be entitled to reside in a country of the AO Trauma Middle East and Northern African 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: Principle Investigator 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:
Guidelines
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.
"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
