Funder: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Due Dates: October 22, 2026 (Pre-proposal) | Approximately December 1, 2026 (Invitations) | February 23, 2027, 11:59 PM ET (Full proposal) | April–June 2027 (Notifications)
Funding Amounts: Acorn: up to $30,000; Oak: more than $30,000, including indirect costs; duration depends on project scope
Summary: Supports early-career investigators conducting basic, translational, and clinical research that directly benefits canine health.
Key Information: Applicants must hold a veterinary doctorate and/or PhD and be within six years of completing relevant training.
Description
The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation’s Early Career Investigator Program supports researchers in the first stage of their careers as independent investigators. It combines funding for research that directly benefits dogs with investment in the next generation of veterinary scientists. Proposals may fall under the Acorn or Oak grant categories, depending on project scope and budget.
The program supports basic, translational, and clinical research, including investigations into canine disease mechanisms, new diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions, and clinical trials. The Spring 2027 cycle welcomes work across all areas of canine health research. Priority goes to studies addressing demonstrated needs, fostering critical discoveries, or producing outcomes that improve canine health care and enable dogs to live healthier lives.
