Blaustein Pain Research Fund Grants support clinical and basic research in pain conducted within Johns Hopkins Medicine with two grant cycles (Spring and Fall) each year.

• Instructions for Grant Application
• Grant Application Template
• Watch a presentation on grant writing tips

Please send an electronic copy of the proposal (in PDF format) to the chair at [email protected] and to the Blaustein fund coordinator, Linda Page, at [email protected]. You will receive an email receipt confirmation; once received.

Proposals Accepted for Consideration

You can apply for funds to:

• Empower a junior faculty member to develop a research project.
• Advance a project to a point where it can earn external support.
• Complete a small research project. 
• Support core personnel such as clinical outcomes coordinators, computer specialists, biostatisticians
• Keep research activities up and running "between grants.”

Typical awards are for about $25,000 per year, and are intended for direct costs only. Requests should not exceed $60,000.

We call your attention to a new feature: The budget may now include a reimbursement for faculty salary of up to $10,000. The cap on the total budget will remain at $60,000. If there are budget or other questions regarding scientific issues that you encounter as you prepare your grant, please consider addressing these to the Scientific Advisory Board through Linda Page.

Review Process

The Research Grant Committee of the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Center’s director. Proposals are evaluated on these bases:

• Relevance to pain
• Feasibility
• Synergy with overall pain program
• Originality
• Level of departmental support
• Scientific merit
• Career development potential
• History of productivity as predictor of success
• Likelihood of research attaining external funding

Requirements

• Eligible research should relate directly to improving our understanding of the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of pain.
• Faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University with a demonstrated commitment of career interest in pain research are eligible.
• You agree to acknowledge the support of the Blaustein Pain Research Fund in any publication resulting from the research.
• You agree to present a brief progress report at the end of the funding period.
• The results of the selected study will be presented at the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center Grand Rounds.

Proposal Deadlines 

Proposals for Spring 2025

• Beginning date: Open
• Ending date: April 18, 2025
• Funding period: 7/1/2025 - 6/30/2026

Proposals for Fall 2025

• Beginning date: Open
• Ending date: October 17, 2025
• Funding period: 1/1/2026 - 12/31/2026

Research proposals can be submitted throughout the year. After your proposal is received and checked for completion, you will receive a confirmation email with information about your grant cycle and review date.

Watch a video on grant writing tips

How to Submit Your Application

• Research plan page limit: five (5) pages with a font size of 11 or greater. Applications with research plans exceeding this limit will not be reviewed.
• The proposal should use a format similar to that of an NIH research proposal with sections covering Specific Aims, Background and Significance (i.e., rationale), Preliminary Results (if available) or Progress Report (for those requesting an additional year of support), and Research Design and Methods.
• Applicants should state how this research will develop their career and/or lead to external support. 
• Please provide an abstract (<300 words), a five-page biographical sketch of the applicant and all co-investigators, a budget with justification, and a summary of other ongoing and proposed research support.
• Include a letter from the Department Director that comments on the merit of the proposal and indicates the amount of support to be provided for this research by the department.
• Please send an electronic version of your complete application in one PDF to the Chair of the Committee, Matthias Ringkamp at [email protected] and the coordinator, Linda Page at [email protected]. You will receive an email confirmation after your application has been checked for required components.

View research awarded grants from the Blaustein Pain Research Fund.