AWI Refinement Research Award
AWI Refinement Research Award supports animal care staff, veterinarians, students, and researchers in developing and testing practical refinements to improve the care and welfare of research animals.
Funder: Animal Welfare Institute
Due Dates: October 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to US$15,000; research must be completed within 12 months of receiving the award
Summary: Supports developing and testing innovative refinements to improve the care, husbandry, housing, and welfare of animals used in research.
Key Information: Applicants must reside in the United States or Canada, and projects must be conducted in either country.
Description
The Animal Welfare Institute’s Refinement Research Award supports the generation and testing of techniques that improve the welfare of animals used in research. The program welcomes animal care staff, veterinarians, students, and researchers. Its priority is developing specific refinements with direct welfare benefits, so applied, solutions-oriented research receives preference over basic or theoretical work with indirect impacts.
Projects may take place in laboratories, farms, zoos, sanctuaries, shelters, or other settings, provided their conclusions apply to research animals. Supported work has explored environmental enrichment, social housing, stress-reducing handling, humane anesthesia, positive reinforcement training, and noninvasive sampling alternatives. Other projects have examined animal communication, play behavior, disease risk, and relationships between animals and their caregivers.
