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The mission of Morris Animal Foundation is to bridge science and available resources to advance the health of animals. To achieve its mission, the foundation funds hypothesis-driven, humane animal health research projects with high scientific merit and the potential for significant impact on animal health. The foundation currently is inviting applications for its Established Investigator Grants program. Through the program, grants of up to $50,000 a year for up to three years will be awarded to individuals and teams with a previous record of research and publication in support of projects that advance the science of canine, feline, equine, llama, alpaca, or wildlife health. Projects oriented toward human health and agricultural animal health do not fall within the Morris Animal Foundation mission and are not eligible for a grant.

Attention veterinarians, lab technicians, animal technicians, and all who work with laboratory animals: The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) now is accepting proposals for the 2014 Science-based Refinement Awards (formerly the Animal Welfare Enhancement Awards). The focus of these awards is to elicit scientific evidence to support the enhancement of the housing, handling and/or experimental situations for laboratory animals. Studies may, for example, examine: how physiological and behavioral stress responses to common husbandry (e.g., capture) and traditional treatment procedures (e.g., gavage, injection, blood collection) can be reduced or eliminated (e.g., by training the subjects to cooperate rather than resist); whether animals caged at different tier levels show different physiological and behavioral stress responses when being approached by personnel, and how these responses can be minimized or avoided; whether the presence of a compatible companion buffers physiological and behavioral stress responses to experimental situations (e.g., enforced restraint); whether animals kept in legally minimum-sized cages benefit from a moderate increase in space that is (a) empty versus (b) structured in species-appropriate ways (e.g., shelter, visual blind, perch, platform, PVC tube).

The Morris Animal Foundation works to advance the health of animals by funding hypothesis-driven, humane animal health research projects with scientific merit and the potential for significant impact on animal health. To that end, the foundation welcomes applications for its Wildlife/Exotics animal research program. Through the program, grants will be awarded in the following categories: Established Investigator - Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded in support of individuals and teams. All investigators are eligible to apply, although applicants should have a previous record of research and publication to be competitive. First Award - Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to assist new faculty in establishing a successful research program. Eligible applicants must have a DVM and/or PhD and have a full-time, permanent position in a university, accredited zoo or conservation organization, or other non-academic equivalent. Pilot Study - Grants of up to $10,800 will be awarded in support of innovative ideas with potential to accelerate discovery and advance MAF's mission. All investigators are eligible to apply. Fellowship Training Grant Proposals - Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to assist new investigators in launching a successful research career by providing salary support in a quality mentoring environment. Eligible applicants must have a DVM or PhD, be a full-time graduate student, or have a postdoctoral research appointment and not have completed more than two years of full-time postdoctoral research training on the proposed project.

The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control (BIWFC) seeks grant proposals for research aimed at advancing the science of fertility control methods for humane management of wildlife. Acceptable research projects will support the Institute's mission and comply with its ethics policy on treatment of animals and may include research focused on: Success rates of wildlife fertility control methods as applied in the field including logistical feasibility The impact of wildlife fertility control on animal social dynamics and physical health Public attitudes toward fertility control as a wildlife population management tool Research and development of new approaches Cost effectiveness of fertility control Development of animal identification and fertility control delivery systems Grants will not exceed $50,000. Grants are limited to one year, although the Institute may consider renewal funding. Grant proposal due date: May 15, 2017

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The International Affairs Program delivers on this mission through its financial assistance programs by supporting strategic projects that deliver measurable conservation results for priority species and their habitats around the world. Background: Wildlife trafficking is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest and trade of animals and plants. It has broad security implications, with corruption and sophisticated transnational crime syndicates at the center of poaching and trafficking. Wildlife trafficking removes hundreds of thousands of animals and plants from wild populations each year and raises extinction risk for endangered species, often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value. Wildlife trafficking also harms a country¿s natural resources and local communities which might otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable trade. The USFWS is designated as the U.S. Management and Scientific Authority for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is the only global treaty to ensure that the international trade in plants and animals does not threaten species survival in the wild. The capacity of all CITES Parties to implement and enforce the Convention is fundamental to its effectiveness and has been the focus of ongoing efforts, particularly in developing countries and economies in transition.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund works with purpose and passion on behalf of wildlife and habitats worldwide, encouraging sustainable solutions through support of species research, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and conservation education. Since its inception in 2003, the fund has awarded more than $15 million to over twelve hundred projects around the world. To that end, the fund is accepting applications for projects related to species research, habitat protection, conservation education, and animal rescue and rehabilitation.

The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program supports research on the ecological, evolutionary, and socio-ecological principles and processes that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. The central theme of submitted projects must be quantitative or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics. The intent is discovery of principles of infectious disease transmission and testing mathematical or computational models that elucidate infectious disease systems. Projects should be broad, interdisciplinary efforts that go beyond the scope of typical studies. They should focus on the determinants and interactions of transmission among humans, non-human animals, and/or plants. This includes, for example, the spread of pathogens; the influence of environmental factors such as climate; the population dynamics and genetics of reservoir species or hosts; or the cultural, social, behavioral, and economic dimensions of disease transmission. Research may be on zoonotic, environmentally-borne, vector-borne, or enteric diseases of either terrestrial or freshwater systems and organisms, including diseases of animals and plants, at any scale from specific pathogens to inclusive environmental systems. Proposals for research on disease systems of public health concern to developing countries are strongly encouraged, as are disease systems of concern in agricultural systems. Investigators are encouraged to involve the public health research community, including for example, epidemiologists, physicians, veterinarians, food scientists, social scientists, entomologists, pathologists, virologists, or parasitologists with the goal of integrating knowledge across disciplines to enhance our ability to predict and control infectious diseases.

The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund is soliciting proposals for the conservation of rhinoceroses and/or tigers throughout their ranges. The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act was passed in 1994 to provide financial resources for conservation of rhinoceros and tiger populations. The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund supports projects that promote conservation through: Enhanced protection of at-risk rhinoceros and tiger populations; Protected area/reserve management in important rhinoceros and tiger range; Veterinary care for wild populations; Habitat conservation and management; Reintroduction to former range; Restoration of habitat; Wildlife inspection, law enforcement, and forensics skills; Conservation education and community outreach; Efforts to decrease human-rhinoceros and human-tiger conflicts; Strengthening local capacity to implement conservation programs; Transfrontier rhinoceros and tiger conservation; Applied research on rhinoceros and tiger populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring; Development and execution of rhinoceros and tiger conservation management plans; and Compliance with applicable treaties and laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros and tigers or regulate the use and management of their habitat; Reducing demand for illegal rhino and tiger parts, products and live animals in consumer countries; Combatting trafficking of illegal rhino and tiger parts, products and live animals. Proposed project work should occur within the rhinoceros or tiger range, or, if work is to be conducted outside of the range, the proposal should show clear relevance to rhinoceros or tiger conservation. If the project includes research, the applicant must provide a convincing argument that the research addresses priority threats and that the results are likely to result in management actions.

The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Core Programs support research aimed at understanding why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do. Proposals are welcomed in all of the core scientific program areas supported by the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). Areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, developmental biology and the evolution of developmental processes, nervous system development, structure, modification, function, and evolution; biomechanics and functional morphology, physiological processes, symbioses and microbial interactions, interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic environments, plant and animal genomics, and animal behavior. Proposals should focus on organisms as a fundamental unit of biological organization. Principal Investigators are encouraged to apply systems approaches that will lead to conceptual and theoretical insights and predictions about emergent organismal properties.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is now accepting applications for its 2016 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards. This award program, named in honor of the organization's late founder and president for over 50 years, provides grants of up to $10,000 to award recipients to help spur innovative research on humane, nonlethal tools and techniques for wildlife conflict management and for studying wildlife.

The project will investigate the dynamics and connectivity of the northern, i.e., Panoche/Ciervo, giant kangaroo rat metapopulation by sampling 10-20 animals at each of 20-30 sampling sites with a suite of >12 of microsatellite loci. Aims are to determine (1) the number of discrete populations present, (2) the magnitude and directionality of gene flow among populations, thus identifying both source and sink populations, and (3) identification of intermediate stepping-stone populations

The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) supports research aimed at understanding why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do. Proposals should focus on organisms as a fundamental unit of biological organization. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to apply systems approaches that will lead to conceptual and theoretical insights and predictions about emergent organismal properties.  Areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, developmental biology and the evolution of developmental processes, nervous system development, structure, and function, physiological processes, functional morphology, symbioses, interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic environments, and animal behavior.

BARD projects, conducted cooperatively by American and Israeli scientists, cover all phases of agricultural research and development, including integrated projects and strategic or applied research. Cooperative research entails active collaboration between Israeli and American scientists. The following research areas were identified by the Board of Directors as top priorities for the coming years: Increased Efficiency of Agricultural Production Protection of Plants and Animals Against Biotic and Abiotic Stress Food Quality, Safety and Security Water Quality & Quantity Functional Genomics and Proteomics Sensors and Robotics Sustainable Bio-Energy Systems

The American Wildlife Conservation Foundation (AWCF) provides grants supporting research and public education towards enhancing scientific wildlife management and conservation of wild habitats in North America, with an emphasis on New York State. Our goal is to ensure that wild animals and the ecosystems sustaining them will thrive for the long term, conserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Today the Foundation funds projects in medicine, life sciences and the physical sciences. Particular areas of interest include innovative medical investigations and applications, endangered animals and ecosystems, and climate change.

While the fund recognizes and supports the critical importance of ex-situ efforts such as endangered species breeding programs and conservation awareness/education, its primary focus is to support conservation efforts directly benefiting wildlife in their native ranges (in situ). For this reason, the fund is unable to help underwrite the captive breeding efforts of other animal management facilities. However, the fund will consider ex-situ conservation education proposals that demonstrate significant positive and sustainable impact.

The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund is soliciting proposals for the conservation of rhinoceroses and/or tigers throughout their ranges. The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act was passed in 1994 to provide financial resources for the conservation programs of nations whose activities directly or indirectly affect rhinoceros and tiger populations. The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund supports projects that promote conservation through: * Enhanced protection of at-risk rhinoceros and tiger populations; * Reducing demand in consumer countries and trafficking for illegal rhino and tiger parts, products and live animals; * Protected area/reserve management in important rhinoceros and tiger range; * Veterinary care for wild populations; * Habitat conservation and management; * Reintroduction to former range; * Restoration of habitat; * Wildlife inspection, law enforcement, and forensics skills; * Conservation education and community outreach; * Efforts to decrease human-rhinoceros and human-tiger conflicts; * Strengthening local capacity to implement conservation programs; * Transfrontier rhinoceros and tiger conservation; * Applied research on rhinoceros and tiger populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring; * Development and execution of rhinoceros and tiger conservation management plans; and * Compliance with applicable treaties and laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros and tigers or regulate the use and management of their habitat. 

The purpose of the BRAG program is to support the generation of new information that will assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing into the environment genetically engineered organisms (GE), including plants, microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods, fish, birds, mammals and other animals excluding humans. Investigations of effects on both managed and natural environments are relevant. The BRAG program accomplishes its purpose by providing Federal regulatory agencies with scientific information relevant to regulatory issues. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (hereinafter, "NMFS") is responsible for the stewardship, conservation, and management of pinniped species in Alaska, including the Steller sea lion, Northern fur seal, ringed seal, bearded seal, spotted seal, ribbon seal, and harbor seal. Two of these pinnipeds are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act: the endangered western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller sea lions and the threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seals (a third species, the Beringia DPS of bearded seals, was also listed as threatened but the listing was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska). NMFS has the responsibility to foster the recovery of these ESA-listed species and research is necessary to support our recovery programs for these species. Non-ESA-listed pinniped species or populations in Alaska are listed as strategic stocks under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and/or are important as a subsistence resource to Alaska Natives and co-managed by NMFS and Alaska Native co-management partners. Research is also an important component to co-management of these animals. Beginning in fiscal year (hereinafter, "FY") 2015, certain priority pinniped research in Alaska will be administered through a competitively-funded, merit-based grants program. This program concerns only Alaskan pinnipeds for which NMFS bears responsibility; proposals focusing on marine mammals under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not be considered for funding under this grant program. This document describes how to prepare and submit proposals for funding in FY 2015 and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded.

The multi-agency Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program supports research on the ecological, evolutionary, and social principles and processes that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. The central theme of submitted projects must be quantitative or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics. The intent is discovery of principles of infectious disease transmission and testing mathematical or computational models that elucidate infectious disease systems. Projects should be broad, interdisciplinary efforts that go beyond the scope of typical studies. They should focus on the determinants and interactions of transmission among humans, non-human animals, and/or plants