Biomedical Research
Osteopathic and allopathic physicians and scientific investigators conduct biomedical research to understand the causes of diseases and to develop treatments and preventive measures to advance patient care and safety. While biomedical research has led to many years of groundbreaking treatments, it is needed more now than ever as new diseases emerge that threaten the health and safety of various populations.
Are you interested in becoming an osteopathic physician-scientist? Explore the career option of an osteopathic physician-scientist and the biomedical research programs available through the member colleges of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) that are training the next generation of scientists and physicians.
- The Importance of Physician-Scientists in Today’s Medicine
- Osteopathic Physician-Scientist Training
- Osteopathic Physician-Scientist Training Programs by State
- Key Resources for Prospective and Current Physician-Scientist Students
Building Communities
AACOM has several councils, committees and special interest or affinity groups comprised of faculty, administrators, staff, students, physicians and other professionals in the osteopathic medical community who work in biomedical research or support scientific investigators at their colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs).
Group members receive benefits such as leadership and professional development, networking opportunities, collaboration and recommendations rooted in evidence-based outcomes on how to improve or advance biomedical research programs at their COMs.
Consider joining one of these vital AACOM groups.
Osteopathic Physician-Scientists Engagement Network (OPEN)
This AACOM interest group, composed of administrators, physician-scientists, DO/PhD program directors and trainees, supports and promotes the development and nurturing of physician-scientists by representing the interests of DO/PhD programs and research-focused osteopathic physicians and trainees throughout the continuum of their research careers.
Council of Osteopathic Researchers (COR)
AACOM's Council of Osteopathic Researchers (COR) supports and coordinates medical education research efforts, focusing on teaching/learning issues as well as institutional research at osteopathic medical schools.
Recent Research News
HHS Secretary Kennedy Testifies Before House Subcommittee
- On June 24, 2025, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health during a contentious hearing.
- Billed as a hearing to examine the fiscal year (FY) 2026 HHS Budget, members questioned the cuts to NIH programs, including HIV research, and voiced concern about protection of NIH whistleblowers and grant cancellations that courts have since ruled against. There was also discussion about HHS grant approvals being held pending Department of Government Efficiency review.
- Secretary Kennedy announced a vision for the future use of health wearable technology as a cost-effective way to combat chronic disease prevention, but members raised concerns about privacy.
- There were heated exchanges around transparency and public input, especially around the federal vaccine approval process.
- For more information, see AACOM’s summary of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing.