Active Dog Wellness RFP - Acorn Grant

Active Dog Wellness RFP - Acorn Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation Inc
Amount: Up to US $30,000
Last Updated: June 26, 2025

Summary

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is inviting proposals for research to enhance the health and longevity of active dogs. This initiative emphasizes physical activity's role in health, targeting injury prevention, obesity management, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Proposals should align with evidence-based practices and may span various research areas, including cardiology and neurology. The foundation values collaborative research that integrates One Health approaches, aiming to promote well-being and improve the quality of life for dogs across diverse environments.

Overview

Scope Dogs who are active and fit live longer healthier lives. The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is pleased to announce a call for proposals supporting the health of dogs through investigations promoting their physical activity and healthy aging. This call supports the well-being and performance of all dogs. Studies may focus on dogs involved in specific activities, such as canine athletes participating in performance and companion sports or working dogs. Proposals fostering evidence-based medicine are strongly encouraged. Projects may encompass basic science, translational, clinical, epidemiological, or outcomes-based research. Areas of interest include: Explorations of how physical activity is associated with health Injury prevention Obesity management and weight loss Interventions to increase physical activity Musculoskeletal rehabilitation Muscle strengthening Devices and alternative modalities Wound healing and tissue regeneration Pain prevention, detection, and management Acute and chronic injury Treatment of chronic inflammation Osteoarthritis Being physically active is one of the most important correlates of health. The Foundation promotes the health of all dogs and strongly values maintaining health, delaying disease progression, improving quality of life, and extending longevity. CHF recognizes the integral connections between dogs, humans, and the environment and supports multidisciplinary and One Health approaches to accelerate progress through collaborative research. Research Focus Area Investigators may submit proposals in any of the 23 Research Program Areas: BehaviorBlood DisordersCardiologyDermatology & Allergic DiseaseEndocrinologyEpilepsyGastrointestinal DiseaseGeneral Canine HealthHepatic DiseaseImmunology & Infectious DiseaseKidney & Urological DiseaseLung & Respiratory DiseaseMusculoskeletal Conditions & DiseaseNeurologyOncology - GeneralOncology - HemangiosarcomaOncology - LymphomaOncology - OsteosarcomaOphthalmologyReproductive ConditionsTick-Borne DiseaseClinician-Scientist Fellowship ProgramResidency Programs (Theriogenology & Sports Medicine) However, we particularly emphasize preventive and early intervention in canine medicine and health, specifically through the Musculoskeletal Conditions & Disease and General Canine Health research program areas.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The AKC Canine Health Foundation allows salary support for graduate students on a sliding scale based on a standard schedule of progressive time in the laboratory.Year of Graduate Student & Percentage of allowable salary in budget:1 - 25%2 - 50%3 - 50%4 - 90%5 - 90%Animals: Projects involving dog research colonies or any non-client-owned dogs (i.e. participating dogs must have owner consent) Projects involving disease induction or injury models Transportation of live or dead dogs Salary and Personnel Expenses: Salary of full-time university or industry faculty or professional, salaried staff (non-profit or for-profit) Tuition or registration fees for classes or training Graduate student expenses associated with coursework and teaching responsibilities Travel expenses related to research project objectives will be considered on a case-by-case basis (example: sample procurement, presentation of research findings) Indirect Costs: To ensure funds are used for research, it is not AKC CHF’s position to incur indirect costs on sub-awards as a direct cost of the award. The maximum allowable indirect costs request is 8% of the total grant budget. Equipment: Purchase or rental of laboratory equipment or non-disposable parts Repair or maintenance of laboratory equipment or non-disposable parts Computer equipment and/or software Development of custom-designed computer software