Applications Invited for Pre-Proposals: Wildlife Health & Welfare

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About the Organization

The mission of Morris Animal Foundation is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. To achieve this mission, we fund hypothesis-driven, humane research projects with high scientific merit and the potential for significant impact. We are a nonprofit organization funded by public support from individuals, corporations, clubs, foundations, and earnings from our endowed funds. Our donors are interested in funding research that results in impactful animal health achievements and benefits both scientific and non-scientific stakeholders including veterinarians, wildlife researchers, and communities.

About the Grant

Request for Pre-Proposals: Wildlife Health & Welfare Established Investigator, First Award, Pilot Study Awards: Mammal focus Fellowship Training Award: Open topic

This request for pre-proposals is focused on Wildlife Health. Pre-proposals on other topics will not be accepted. Established Investigator, Pilot Study and First Award applications must focus on mammal health and welfare. Fellowship Training applications are open topic. Morris Animal Foundation is focused on advancing animal health and welfare; while the Foundation recognizes the importance of conservation to animal health, any conservation-focused proposals must be through an animal health lens. Animals in managed care settings can be a valuable proxy for wild counterparts, but all submitted proposals must have direct translational value to free-ranging wildlife populations. The value of your project for wildlife health must be clearly outlined in the Animal Health Impact section of your pre-proposal.

To ensure we fund only the most impactful research, successful pre-proposals will:

• Identify a well-defined animal health need
• Demonstrate collaboration with key stakeholders before, during, and after the project
• Describe a clear strategy for achieving meaningful outcomes

Award duration and budget limits:

Established Investigator maximum project duration is 36 months. There is no limit to the budget request, however we expect the average award to be approximately $100,000.

• First Award maximum project duration is 24 months, and the budget cannot exceed $120,000.
• Pilot Study maximum project duration is 12 months, and the budget cannot exceed $20,000.
• Fellowship Training project duration must be 24 months, and the budget cannot exceed $145,000.

Eligibility

Only one application per principal investigator is allowed for this RFP. However, a PI on one study can be listed as a co-investigator on other proposals. Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the health problem, relevant expertise, methodological strength, and thoughtful consideration of environmental and animal welfare impacts.

Established Investigator: Competitive applicants for this award will have a record of expertise demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.

First Award: First Award grants are designed to assist early career researchers in establishing a successful research program by supporting their first award as an independent investigator. The applicant must have completed a PhD, DVSc, DVM, or equivalent degree and have a faculty or staff position in a university, accredited zoo, conservation organization, or a non-academic equivalent (not including a for-profit institution). Principal Investigators should have a history of research publication as a Co-PI or Co-Investigator. Individuals currently in a residency program are not eligible. Postdoctoral researchers should be completing their program and proposing research intended to be conducted in a guaranteed position. Applicants must not have received previous funding of more than $25,000 for any single extramural award as a principal investigator leading independent research. Applicants are eligible to apply if they have received funding during training or education such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program or the Morris Animal Foundation’s Fellowship Training grant. If invited to submit a full proposal, the applicant should clearly describe prior funding in their candidate letter of intent. Previous funding as a coinvestigator is acceptable. If invited, the full proposal application will require supporting statements from one or more appropriately experienced mentors and Department Head.

Pilot Study: Pilot Study awards provide funding for proof-of-concept studies in animal health research.

Fellowship Training Applicants: Fellowship Training Grants are designed to assist new investigators in launching a successful research career at an academic or conservation organization by providing salary support in a quality mentoring environment. Applicants must either (1) hold a veterinary degree (such as DVM) or a PhD or (2) be enrolled in a PhD program and will have completed the first two years of their program by the expected start date of their research. Combined DVM/PhD students who are in the PhD portion of their program may apply. Awardees must devote at least 75% of their time to the research project at a university, accredited zoo, conservation organization, or a nonacademic equivalent (not including a for profit institution). Clinical residents and those with clinical service requirements greater than 25% time are not eligible.

Fellowship Training applicants with a PhD must have earned the PhD within four years of the grant application date. Candidates who have held a PhD more than four years and other candidates in permanent salaried faculty/research positions at the time of application are not eligible for a Morris Animal Foundation Fellowship. These researchers may wish to pursue a non-Fellowship Grant under the First Award mechanism. This application will require supporting statements from one or more appropriately experienced mentors and Department Head if invited to submit a full proposal.

How to Apply

February 11, 2026: Pre-Proposals due; submit pre-proposal as a single document (PDF) via SmartSimple no later than 4:59pm ET.

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Healthcare and Healthtech Others