Verified

JRGOS/ Zimmer BioMet Research Grant For Medical Students

J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society

The purpose of the JRGOS-Zimmer Biomet Medical Student Research Grant is to support studies that conduct research that supports the JRGOS mission. The research study should be designed so that a measurable outcome is achieved at the end of the grant cycle.

Funding: up to $5,000 grants for Medical Students

Deadline for Grant submission: August 1, 2026 – October 19, 2026.

Application Questions

Title of the project
Abstract (max. 350 words)
Specific Aims of the Study (1 page)
Research Plan (6 pages maximum), have these 3 components
I. Significance
II. Innovation
III. Approach
References
Budget
Project Timeline (for each of the Specific Aims)

Application Materials

CV of the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators
Please upload a Letter of Recommendation from a Faculty Mentor

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong Alignment With JRGOS's Mission and Orthopaedic Care

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

The project should clearly contribute to orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal health, while fitting JRGOS's broader mission of diversity and high-quality care.

Particularly strong projects can address:

Orthopaedic clinical outcomes.
Musculoskeletal disease.
Surgical outcomes.
Orthopaedic trauma.
Joint reconstruction.
Sports medicine.
Spine.
Pediatric orthopaedics.
Orthopaedic oncology.
Access and disparities in musculoskeletal care.

JRGOS's grant portfolio demonstrates that both clinical science and research addressing disparities in orthopaedic care have been funded.

2. Clear Clinical or Scientific Significance

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

The research should address a meaningful problem rather than simply generate incremental data.

The proposal should establish:

Important orthopaedic problem → knowledge gap → research question → clinically meaningful outcome

The JRGOS/DePuy research application, for example, explicitly requires a Significance section within the research plan.

Strong questions may concern:

Improving surgical outcomes.
Reducing complications.
Improving access to care.
Understanding disparities.
Improving treatment selection.
Developing better surgical techniques.
Improving rehabilitation.
Improving outcomes for underserved populations.

3. Scientific Rigor and Appropriate Methodology

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

JRGOS research grants require a structured research plan covering Significance, Innovation and Approach.

A competitive proposal should therefore include:

Clearly defined aims.
Appropriate study design.
Testable hypotheses where applicable.
Appropriate patient/sample population.
Valid outcome measures.
Statistical methodology.
Appropriate controls/comparison groups.
Defined analysis plan.
Identification of limitations.
A realistic implementation strategy.

The methodology needs to be proportionate to the size and duration of the grant.

4. Research Addressing Orthopaedic Disparities, Equity and Access

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

This is a particularly distinctive JRGOS opportunity.

JRGOS has explicitly supported research examining health disparities in orthopaedic surgery, and its research database identifies disparities, diversity, equity, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors and underrepresented populations among its research topics.

A strong disparities proposal should go beyond simply documenting that a disparity exists. It should investigate:

Why the disparity occurs.
Modifiable factors.
Differences in access.
Differences in treatment.
Differences in outcomes.
Socioeconomic barriers.
Bias or structural factors.
Potential interventions to reduce the disparity.

The JRGOS/OREF collaboration previously offered a $150,000 DEI research grant specifically for investigator-initiated clinical research addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in orthopaedics and disparities in care.

5. Innovation and Originality

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

Innovation is explicitly required in the JRGOS research-plan structure.

Innovation may involve:

New surgical techniques.
New implants or technologies.
AI in orthopaedics.
Novel biomechanical approaches.
New rehabilitation strategies.
New approaches to disparity reduction.
Novel patient-outcome measures.
New approaches to surgical decision-making.
Innovative educational methods.
New uses of existing datasets.

JRGOS's research database specifically includes Artificial Intelligence, Biologics, Biomechanics and Innovation as research topics.

6. Measurable Outcomes and Clear Deliverables

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

JRGOS grants emphasize research that can produce tangible results.

For example, the medical-student Zimmer Biomet grant requires the research study to be designed so that a measurable outcome is achieved by the end of the grant cycle.

Strong applications should therefore identify:

Primary outcome.
Secondary outcomes.
Milestones.
Expected dataset/results.
Publication or presentation objectives.
Timeline for completion.

The proposal should make it easy for reviewers to determine what will actually be accomplished with the funding.

7. Feasibility Within the Grant Period

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

JRGOS has historically offered relatively focused grants, making scope and feasibility particularly important.

For the JRGOS/DePuy research grant, research was required to be completed within 12 months of grant receipt, with no-cost extensions generally unavailable.

Therefore, strong proposals should demonstrate:

Existing access to patients/data.
Appropriate institutional resources.
Realistic recruitment.
Available research personnel.
Necessary equipment.
Achievable aims.
A realistic timeline.

An overly ambitious multi-year project is less compatible with a short-duration pilot grant.

8. Strong Investigator, Mentor and Research Environment

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

JRGOS supports investigators across different career stages, but the required investigator structure varies by grant.

For example, medical-student research grants require a supervising attending orthopaedic surgeon.

The broader JRGOS program also provides mentoring and research-development opportunities for residents and fellows.

A strong team should demonstrate:

Appropriate orthopaedic expertise.
Research experience.
Statistical support.
Access to patients/data.
Appropriate laboratory resources where necessary.
Strong mentorship for junior investigators.

9. Strong Potential for Publication and Dissemination

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

JRGOS's stated research-support model emphasizes research that is ultimately presented at an orthopaedic conference or published.

The JRGOS research-grant outcomes study provides evidence that this is a meaningful characteristic of the program: among grants awarded from 2011–2023, 67.3% resulted in at least one publication; among practicing orthopaedic-surgeon recipients, the publication rate was 92.3%.

This suggests that proposals should have a realistic dissemination strategy:

Grant → data → abstract → presentation → peer-reviewed publication

10. Appropriate Budget and No Unnecessary Indirect Costs

Importance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

JRGOS grant programs can restrict indirect costs. For example, the DePuy/JRGOS research grant explicitly states that no indirect costs are allowed, while the medical-student Zimmer Biomet grant similarly excludes indirect costs.

A competitive budget should therefore directly connect:

Requested expense → research activity → measurable outcome

Appropriate expenses may include:

Research supplies.
Data collection.
Research personnel.
Statistical support.
Project-specific equipment/resources.

The budget should be proportionate to the research question and grant size.

Specialties

Orthopedics

Surgery

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements for Medical Students:

Primary applicant must be enrolled in accredited medical school
The primary applicant must be a member in good standing and remain a Gladden member for the life of the research
Recipient must provide updates every 6 months
JRGOS must be recognized for its support of the work and upon all subsequent occasions when the data is presented
Medical student must have a supervising attending orthopaedic surgeon for the research grant.
Medical student must have a MCOR certification mandatory for the research grant.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 7000 W Forest Preserve Dr # 1082, Norridge, IL

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity