2024 Equid Health Awards - Established Investigator, First Award & Pilot Study

Eligibility

ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR: Competitive applicants for this award will have a record of expertise demonstrated through peer-reviewed publication.

FIRST AWARD: First Award grants are designed to assist early career researchers in establishing a successful research program. The applicant must have completed a PhD and have a permanent position in a university, accredited zoo or conservation organization, or other non-academic equivalent. 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 permanent position. Applicants must not have received previous funding of more than $25,000 for any single extramural award as Principal Investigator. Please state this in your candidate letter of intent. Previous funding as a co- investigator is acceptable. This application requires supporting statements from one or more appropriately experienced mentors.

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

All applicants for all categories of award must convince the scientific and animal welfare reviewers that they clearly understand the health problem, have sufficient expertise to conduct the study, are using a scientifically sound approach, and have given appropriate consideration to the overall environmental impact of their research. A maximum of one application as PI in response to this RFP is permitted.

Additional Eligibility Information

Morris Animal Foundation funds researchers and research projects around the world. 

The Foundation is dedicated to funding hypothesis-driven and humane animal health research projects of high scientific merit and potential impact. Submitted proposals must advance the science of canine, feline, equid or wildlife health. Projects oriented toward human health or agricultural animal health do not fall within Morris Animal Foundation’s mission and are not accepted. Additional proposal eligibility criteria are outlined in each RFP’s proposal guidelines. Carefully review and adhere to these proposal guidelines. Deviations from these guidelines may result in the rejection of your proposal.

Summary

The mission of Morris Animal Foundation is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. The Morris Animal Foundation funds hypothesis-driven, humane research projects with high scientific merit and the potential for significant impact. Equity Health Award proposals should advance the health and overall welfare of domesticated horses, ponies, donkeys and/or mules. Please note that for racehorses and wild equids, the Foundation funds research focused on health and quality of life only where outcomes are likely to be of universal equine/equid benefit. The universal outcomes must be clearly outlined in the animal health impact section of your proposal. Use of other species as models (including laboratory rodents) is not appropriate for this topic.

The Morris Animal Foundation's 2024 Equid Health Awards have three streams: Established Investigator, First Award & Pilot Study. Please refer to the Proposal Guidelines for details on each stream.

Morris Animal Foundation Policies

Health Study Policy: Projects must adhere to the Foundation’s Health Study Policy for Animals Involved in Research. Our preference is not to fund projects that include euthanasia of animals for research purposes, or that derive data and/or samples from such projects. Justification for such activities needs to be significant in terms of rejecting alternative approaches. Note that proposals recommended for funding by scientific reviewers are reviewed separately by animal welfare and ethics experts prior to funding.

Parachute science: Projects that include international collaborations should address international scientific engagement and benefits and include a named mentor in the country where the research will occur. The Foundation endeavors to achieve impact through ethical pathways and with the clear intention of inclusivity, diversity, and the elimination of the practice of parachute/colonial science.

Grant Resubmission Policy: Proposal resubmissions are not permitted without explicit written permission from the Foundation.

Overhead

8% indirect costs.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs: You must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsogrants@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Submission Instructions

Applications must be submitted through our portal at https://morrisanimalfoundation.aibs- scores.org/. All applicants must register to use the portal; your username will be your email. The portal home page will list open grant calls, and you can begin your submission.

This application requires institutional authorization prior to submission. To initiate required University of Calgary internal approvals, complete a Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://my.rms.ucalgary.ca/), attaching a PDF of your completed application (along with any additional required attachments), and submitting for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). NOTE: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services Office internal review deadline of 12:00pm MT, July 7, 2023.

Additional Resources

Application Portal

Proposal Guidelines

Proposal Template

Evaluation Rubric

Grant FAQ