AWF invites research proposals
The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) is calling for research proposals as it opens up its grant process for the Norman Hayward Fund.
The fund provides grants for research on the disease and welfare of cattle, horses and sheep. Over the past six years it has awarded more than £1million to veterinary research projects across the UK, ranging from £42,000 to £159,000 on individual projects.
Tiffany Hemming, AWF chairman, said: "AWF is keen to support research that we can see will make a practical difference to animal welfare in a relatively short time period.
"We also pay particular attention to applicants' communication plans. We want to be clear how the key messages from our research will be disseminated to the target audience – this is critical to achieving practical improvements in animal welfare."
The application process takes part in two stages and is open to both academic and practice-based researchers.
First, applicants must submit a Project Overview Form, which gives a brief outline of the nature and scope of the project. These will then be assessed by trustees, who will decide which applicants may submit a full grant application.
The closing date for applications is September 27. For further information about the grants or to apply, visit the AWF website.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
