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Supporting the Next Generation of Lifestyle Medicine Research

The ACLM Trainee Research Scholarship and Grants Program is designed to encourage, support, and mentor emerging researchers who are advancing the science and practice of lifestyle medicine.

Through targeted funding and expert mentorship, ACLM helps trainees develop high‑quality research that strengthens the evidence base for lifestyle medicine and accelerates its integration into clinical care, education, and health systems. 

Program Purpose

The Trainee Research Scholarship and Grants Program exists to:

  • Encourage original research relevant to lifestyle medicine
  • Build research capacity among future physicians, clinicians, and scientists
  • Provide mentorship from ACLM’s research leadership
  • Advance evidence aligned with ACLM’s six pillars of lifestyle medicine

This program reflects ACLM’s commitment to cultivating a strong, diverse pipeline of researchers who will shape the future of lifestyle medicine.

Program Details

We fund trainee/student research that has relevance and potential for improving quality of care in clinical practice, demonstrating the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine treatment, and innovating in care delivery or payment methods. We may consider projects focused on medical education, but topics that more directly impact patient care and health outcomes are given higher priority.

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  • ACLM Unrestricted Research Grant – $500
  • ACLM Unrestricted Research Grant – $1000
  • ACLM Open Access Publication Grant – $3000

Funding may be used to support new or ongoing research projects, or to cover publication costs that help disseminate lifestyle medicine research to a broader audience.

  1. Call for proposals opens April 28, 2026
  2. Deadline for submissions July 31, 2026
  3. Proposals reviewed and scored, awards announced August 7, 2026
  4. Awardees acknowledged at LM2026: November 8-11, 2026
  • Trainees may apply for only 1 award in a given year.
  • ACLM Sr. Director of Research will serve in the role of a mentor to the trainee; however, it is expected that the trainee will also have a mentor at their home institution.  Trainee must be closely and actively engaged in the project, in the capacity of a Co-I, research assistant, data analyst, or other similar role.
  • Trainee must be first author on any planned poster abstracts or publications for which award funds are directly used.
  • Research project must focus on an intervention or exposure study that is aligned with at least one of the six pillars of LM (a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection).
  • Award checks will be written to trainee’s institution – please confirm in your application and budget that your institution is willing to accept the funds and can abide by ACLM’s indirect cost limit of 10% (you should confirm this with your supervisor and/or research administration department before applying).
  • Funds must be used within 12 months of the check issue date; awardees must submit a report and documentation at the end of the 12 months to confirm planned use of funds. If grant is unused at the end of this 12-month period, funds must be returned to ACLM.

Mentorship & Scholar Expectations

ACLM is committed to mentorship as a core component of this program.

  • The ACLM Senior Director of Research serves as a program mentor
  • Trainees are also expected to have a home‑institution mentor
  • Trainees must be closely and actively involved in the project
  • Trainees must serve as first author on posters or publications funded by the award

Awardees are expected to pursue dissemination of results through posters, presentations, or peer‑reviewed publications.

Institutional & Administrative Requirements

  • Grant funds are awarded to the trainee’s institution, not directly to the individual
  • Institutions must agree to accept funds and comply with ACLM’s 10% indirect cost limit
  • Funds must be used within 12 months of award issuance
  • Awardees are required to submit a brief report documenting use of funds

Download Instructions and Application Template

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Join our community at a discounted rate, participate in Member Interest Groups (MIGs) related to your career interests, and get expert advice through our Mentor Match program.

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