AWI Refinement Research Award
Forecasted
AWI Refinement Research Award supports animal care staff, veterinarians, students, and researchers in developing and testing innovative refinements to improve the welfare of animals used in research.
Funder: Animal Welfare Institute
Due Dates: December 2026 (Award notification)
Funding Amounts: Up to US$15,000; research 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 conduct the project in either country.
Description
The Animal Welfare Institute’s Refinement Research Award funds the generation and testing of innovative techniques that improve the welfare of animals used in research. The program emphasizes specific refinements with direct welfare benefits, prioritizing applied, solutions-oriented research over theoretical projects with indirect impacts. Both applied and basic/theoretical projects are eligible.
Studies may take place in laboratories, farms, zoos, sanctuaries, shelters, or other settings, provided their conclusions apply to animals used in research. Past awards have supported enriched housing, species-appropriate handling, humane anesthesia, positive reinforcement training, and noninvasive sampling. The program considers the depth, breadth, generalizability, innovation, and directness of a project’s potential impact, alongside its feasibility and overall merit.
