Proposals for Canine Health

The mission of Morris Animal Foundation is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals.

The Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is a longitudinal cohort study that began in 2012 and includes 3,044 purebred golden retrievers. The Study was designed to enable research into the incidence and risk factors for cancer and other diseases, and has accrued a large biorepository and extensive data. Information about Study specimens and data can be found here: Golden Retriever Lifetime Study RFP | Morris Animal Foundation.

This request for proposals is directed toward research on canine cancer that has potential to improve canine health. Of particular interest are genetic epidemiology studies, studies of genetic and epigenetic changes predictive of cancer risk, development of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, and tumor genomic profiling. Proposals that aim to leverage Golden Retriever Lifetime Study specimens and data are encouraged, though proposals leveraging other samples and data may also be submitted.

Established Investigator: Competitive applicants for this award will have a record of expertise demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications. The maximum duration of an Established Investigator Award is 36 months. There is no limit to the budget request, however we expect the average award to be approximately $100,000.

First Award: These grants are designed to assist early-career researchers in establishing a successful research program. The maximum duration of a First Award is 24 months, and the total budget cannot exceed $120,000.

Pilot Award: These awards provide funding for proof-of-concept studies in animal health research. The maximum duration of a Pilot Award is 12 months, and the total budget cannot exceed $20,000.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Morris Animal Foundation website.