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
Landmark AACOM Report Highlights COM Innovation in Health Research
AACOM’s new report, Research at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Inventory, Analysis and Future Directions, provides the first comprehensive analysis of colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) research, highlighting a growing, mission-driven portfolio aligned with national priorities and community needs. It shows COM researchers advancing patient care, medical education and population health, while outlining opportunities to strengthen impact through pipeline development, expanded collaboration and increased mission-driven funding.
Our nation needs research that improves health where people live and receive care. Research at COMs is community-engaged by design, making it uniquely suited to address real-world health challenges and contribute meaningfully to the national research landscape. This report marks the first time our community’s impact has been measured at this scale—and it shows a field ready to play a much larger role in improving health for all.
- AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO
Despite this momentum, the report also highlights a significant gap in federal funding and representation within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently covered in Becker’s Clinical Leadership: MD schools receive 42 percent of NIH funding while DO schools receive just 0.1 percent. AACOM has led sustained appropriations efforts to address this inequity. From fiscal years (FYs) 2022–2026, we secured House and Senate report language directing NIH to expand funding for COMs, increase DO representation on advisory councils and study sections (where DOs hold just three of 462 seats compared to 213 held by MDs) and fully integrate osteopathic medicine across all NIH Institutes and Centers.