Awards for High Priority Early Career Investigators
Designed to support trainees and young investigators from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds as they pursue careers in pain research and clinical practice. This scholarship provides an opportunity to attend the 2026 USASP Annual Scientific Meeting, where awardees can engage with leading experts, present their research, and participate in professional development sessions.
Eligibility
For this award, a Trainee or Young Investigator is an individual who has graduated from high school and has not yet completed their bachelor's degree or terminal education/training or an individual that has completed their terminal degree within the last 5 years and is continuing their training. Students must also demonstrate that they meet the NIH criteria for an individual from an underrepresented and/or disadvantaged background.
Research Topics
Application platform coming in December.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Deadline to Apply is Thursday, February 5th.
USASP-MAYDAY Clinical/Translational Research Award
Two meritorious candidates will be awarded $50,000 for one year with the potential for a no-cost extension for a second year.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates will be an early career investigator within four years of their faculty appointment, except those who have received tenure at the time of the application. Eligible candidates should demonstrate a commitment to the field of pain research and they must conduct their research and be appointed at an institution in the United States or Canada.
Research Topics
Competitive research proposals address clinical/ translational research related to the management of pain. Applicants should describe the proposed research in pain and describe how it is innovative and cutting edge. In addition, the applicant should describe their vision for a career in pain research and provide information or any examples of leadership in pain-related activities.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Application deadline for the 2026 USASP-MAYDAY Clinical/Translational Research Award will be open Thursday, January 15th, 2026. Application platform will be open in the fall.
The Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain
The Foundation has awarded annually two grants or more in the amount of $150,000 over three years to early-career investigators pursuing innovative research that focuses on basic science mechanisms of pain.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates will have completed their training and provided persuasive evidence of distinguished achievement or extraordinary promise in basic research in pain. Candidates should be in the early stages of their career with an appointment at the faculty level.
Research Topics
Proposed research projects should be directed toward investigating the molecular biology of pain and/or basic science topics related to developing new analgesics for managing pain. The entire award is made available to projects specifically chosen by the recipient; university overhead is not supported.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Applications for the 2026 Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain dates TBD.
2026 Travel Award
Seize the opportunity to present your research and secure funding to present your innovations at our annual meeting.
Eligibility
Scholarships are limited to applicants who meet ALL of the criteria outlined on our Travel Award page.
Research Topics
For this award, a Trainee / Young Investigator is an individual who has not yet completed their terminal education/training (MD/DO, PhD, RN); OR an Individual that has completed their terminal degree within the last 5 years AND is continuing their training (e.g., clinical or research fellowship).
Key Dates and Deadlines
To apply you will submit you materials as part of your poster abstract submission, due Friday, December 5th, 2025.
Awardees will be notified by Friday, January 30th 2026. If you are applying for the travel award please hold off on registering.
USASP Fellows
The highest class of membership within the US Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) — is an acknowledgment of outstanding and continuing work in the field of pain.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates will have unwavering dedication, leadership, and innovative approaches have paved the way for significant progress in the field. They will have served as an inspiration and mentor to numerous professionals within their community, solidifying their legacy as a preeminent leaders in the field of pain research and clinical practice.
Research Topics
With great honor, this outstanding achievement recognizes contributions to pain research and clinical practice.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Nomimation packages must be submitted by Wednesday November 5th, 2025.
Gold-Haythornthwaite Lifetime Achievement Award
Celebrating exceptional contributions to the realm of pain research and clinical practice.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates will have unwavering dedication, leadership, and innovative approaches have paved the way for significant progress in the field. They will have served as an inspiration and mentor to numerous professionals within their community, solidifying their legacy as a preeminent leaders in the field of pain research and clinical practice.
Research Topics
With great honor, this outstanding achievement recognizes contributions to pain research and clinical practice.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Applications for the Gold-Haythornthwaite Lifetime Achievement Award will be open through Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 with the award ceremony being held during the 2026 USASP Annual Scientific Meeting.
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