Ready to apply for the Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics? Learn about eligibility and criteria here. Click "Next" to begin your application.

 
The Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics

The Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics (Caplan Award) is a prestigious annual research award established in memory of Dr. Arnold Caplan, a pioneer in the field of orthobiologics. The award aims to recognize significant contributions to advancing biologics solutions for musculoskeletal injuries or pathologies.

Purpose:

The award honors the career achievements of researchers whose work has significantly impacted the development of new therapeutic solutions in orthobiologics.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates must hold an advanced degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DSc).
• The body of work must demonstrate potential for clinical development or lead to new therapeutic opportunities.
• Nominations must include a NIH short form CV biosketch and at least one letter of recommendation.
• Awardees do not need to be members of AAOS.

Please Note: Submissions failing to follow the below guidelines or instructions may not be considered. 

Instructions
 
An Impact Statement must be original and written specifically for this award and should describe an applicant's career trajectory and impact on science, product development, public policy, and regulatory framework, as applicable.

Impact Statement (not to exceed 12 pages): 

• Format: 12-point font, double spaced, one-inch margins, numbered pages. Should be created in Microsoft Word of similar program on standard 8.5" x 11" pages and saved in PDF format. 
• Photos/Charts/Graphs/Tables: All images should be embedded in the document. 
• References: For standardization, any references should follow the format required by the Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 
• Length: Not to exceed 12 pages (including photos, charts, graphs, tables, and references). Documents that are requested in support of the application (such as title page, references, and NIH short CV biosketch) are not included in this 12 page limit. Any additional addenda will NOT be reviewed. 
• DO NOT include non-specified materials.    

Supporting Documents: 

Supporting documents are not subject to the 12-page impact statement limit: 

• The NIH short CV Form (NEW - 5 page limit - download biosketch template), including a relevant bibliography should be used. Instructions and sample are available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm  
   

Submissions for the 2027 Caplan Award will be accepted in electronic format only no later than 11:59 PM CDT on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. 
 
 
Award recipients (only the principal investigator) will be contacted personally in late 2026 if they are selected. An official award notification letter, will follow. Individuals who have not been selected will also receive written confirmation of the final decisions. 

Submissions failing to follow the above guidelines or instructions may not be considered. 

Questions may be submitted to: researchawards@aaos.org