Funding Opportunities Upcoming Dates
27th August 2026 – European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants
ERC Advanced grants are designed to support Principal Investigators who are already established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements. €2.5 million available over 5 years, rising to €3.5 million in special cases. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the groundbreaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their research proposal.
2nd September 2026 – European Research Council (ERC) Plus Grants
New grants for transformative projects that cannot be carried out with a regular ERC Grant. Applicants should be undisputed leaders in their field with a vision to e.g. transform their field or open a new field of research. Only 30 grants will be awarded per year across Europe and a strong justification is required for needing this larger grant. Individual grants for all career stages; up to €7m over max. 7 years.
30th September 2026 – Morris Animal Foundation
Feline RFP opens 26th August
1st October 2026 – ASAB Interdisciplinary Workshop Grants
Science works bests when researchers from different disciplines share their ideas, methods, and results. That’s why every year ASAB awards an Interdisciplinary Workshop Grant (IWG) of up to £7500 to support discussions on research at the interface between animal behaviour and other disciplines (such as physics, engineering, genetics, psychology and anthropology) and/or research areas (such as welfare, experimental design, statistical analysis, conservation and environmental impacts).
8th October 2026 – ESRC React Awards
The ESRC React Awards (pilot) scheme is providing responsive funding (awards of £50k–£100k for projects up to six months in duration) to generate time-critical research to support UK policymakers or frontline practitioners in public services. They are particularly encouraging applicants who have not previously held an ESRC grant. Interdisciplinary proposals are welcomed, provided that at least 51% of the application is based in the social sciences. A key requirement of the funding is that applicants must have a confirmed partnership with at least one public sector organisation that can action the outputs within six months.
Activities may include but are not limited to:
- research
- analysis
- evidence synthesis
- rapid evidence reviews
- urgent data collection
- urgent analysis of existing data resources
11th October 2026 – Animal Welfare Institute Refinement Research Award
The Refinement Research Award provides up to US$15,000 in funding to support a research project that generates or tests innovative refinements to the housing, handling, or care of animals in research. Projects must be based in the US or Canada
11th October 2026 – Animal Welfare Institute Refinement Grant
The Implementing Refinement Grant provides researchers with up to US$8,000 to implement a refinement (e.g., through purchase of equipment or staff training) proven to improve the welfare of animals used in research. Projects must be based in the US or Canada
1st November 2026 – AAALAC Systematic Review Grant
Best Management Practices and Laboratory Animal Welfare
The systematic review must evaluate evidence related to best management practices and welfare recommendations for one of the animal species most commonly involved in research and teaching (including but not limited to mice, rats, zebrafish, rabbits, nonhuman primates, dogs and pigs). The systematic review must use a transparent, reproducible methodology.
