Funding Opportunities Upcoming Dates
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
31st October 2026 – Wild Animal Initiative Research Grants
Seed Grants (up to $30,000) for projects that generate hypotheses through pilot or observational studies for subsequent testing via our more advanced grant types.
Validation Grants (up to $200,000) for projects that study how welfare indicators respond when animals are exposed to conditions expected to induce positive or negative valence.
Welfare Ecology Grants (up to $200,000) for projects that aim to identify and understand the ecological variables that influence welfare.
Fellowships (up to $100,000 per year) providing mentorship for early-career scientists who aspire to careers in wild animal welfare research.
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.
30th November 2026 – Steve Bishop Collaboration for Innovation Early Career Award
This scholarship targets early-career animal scientists, including postgraduate students or those within three years of a PhD, as well as industry professionals with similar experience, even without a PhD. Valued at up to £5,000, it supports short livestock related research programs or training opportunities in the UK or abroad, fostering new partnerships rather than continuing existing ones. Additionally, the funds may partially support livestock related projects across the animal science sector.
31st December 2026 – Science for Animal Welfare Centenary Research Grant
What we are looking for
The only condition (for the topic) is that the project must seek to address either
1) a major animal welfare challenge in terms of severity, duration, and number of animals affected or at risk, or
2) a fundamental animal welfare question.
