DENVER/March 26, 2025 – Morris Animal Foundation is now accepting pre-proposals for research to advance the health and welfare of domestic dogs. Funding is available through four grant mechanisms: Established Investigator, First Award, Pilot Study, and Fellowship Training. Grant applications are due by April 23, 2025, 4:59 p.m. ET.
Pre-proposals using data or samples from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study are encouraged, with coordination required at least one week before the RFP deadline. A fellowship award honoring Dr. Rod Page and the Study’s hero dogs is also available for research on cancer epidemiology, biomarkers, risk factors, and genetic associations in this cohort. See Pre-Proposal Guidelines for details.
Successful pre-proposals must demonstrate a clearly articulated animal health need, a plan to cooperate with key stakeholders before, during and after the research, and a well-defined strategy for achieving intended outcomes. Collaborative proposals between academia and industry are especially welcome to help translate findings into real-world applications more quickly. For-profit applicants recommended for funding will need to meet additional requirements.
"The health challenges facing dogs today are more complex than ever, and advancing veterinary science is critical to improving their well-being,” said Dr. Julia Labadie, Veterinary Research Scientist for the Study at Morris Animal Foundation. “Through this Request for Proposals, the Foundation is eager to support bold, innovative projects that can lead to transformative discoveries in canine health. We encourage researchers to bring forward cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to make a lasting impact on the lives of dogs and their owners."
More information on the application process is available on the Foundation’s Grants page. Any inquiries that remain unanswered by the FAQ page can be directed to [email protected].
Scientific Advisory Board
- Jennifer L. Brazzell, DVM, MVetSC, MRCVS, MPH, DACVP – IDEXX BioAnalytics
- Kari Ekenstedt, DVM, PhD – Purdue University
- Andrea Erickson, DVM, DACVS (SA) – Colorado State University
- Claire Fellman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP – Tufts University
- Ashley Hartley, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM) – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Romy Heilmann, DMV, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA (SAIM), MANZCVS (SAM), PhD, AGAF – Leipzig University
- Erin Katribe, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine) – Best Friends Animal Society
- Anne Kimmerlein, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM – VCA Animal Hospitals
- Ronald Li, DVM, MVetMed, PhD, DACVECC – NC State University
- Denis Marcellin-Little, DEDV, DACVS, DACVSMR – UC Davis
- Jonathan Mochel, DVM, MS, PhD, DECVPT – University of Georgia
- Rell Parker, DVM, PhD, DACVIM–Neurology – Virginia Tech
- Halie Rando, PhD – Smith College
- Kai-Biu Shiu, BVMS, MRCVS, DACVIM (Oncology) – VCA Animal Hospitals
- Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, FFCP – Joybound People & Pets
- Xu Wang, PhD – Auburn University
- Jenessa A. Winston, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SA) – The Ohio State University
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $167 million in 3,100+ critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Washington
