Focused Research Opportunity: Juvenile Cataracts in Golden Retrievers
Focused Research Opportunity: Juvenile Cataracts in Golden Retrievers supports researchers studying cataract genetics and progression to understand their effects on dogs’ vision and quality of life.
Funder: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation
Due Dates: November 3, 2026 (Pre-Proposal) | Approximately December 18, 2026 (Invitations) | March 9, 2027, 11:59 PM ET (Full Proposal) | May–June 2027 (Notifications)
Funding Amounts: Up to $160,000 total; Acorn up to $30,000; Oak over $30,000; maximum 15% indirect costs
Summary: Supports research into the genetics, development, prevention, and functional impact of juvenile cataracts in Golden Retrievers.
Key Information: Projects must address both the genetic basis of juvenile cataracts and their effects on vision and quality of life.
Description
The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (CHF) invites research on juvenile cataracts in Golden Retrievers, with funding made possible by the Golden Retriever Foundation. Within CHF’s eye health research program, this opportunity supports innovative approaches to understanding the condition’s causes, development, and prevention. Research must address both its genetic basis and its functional impact on vision and quality of life.
Priorities include investigating inheritance patterns and evaluating affected dogs as they age. Studies should examine whether cataracts progress and cause increasing impairment, why some progress to functional impairment while others do not, and whether clinical, genetic, or other features distinguish these groups. Collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams are welcome, and the cycle accepts applications from Rising Researchers and Early Career Investigators.
