Sponsor

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation 

Program

2022 Vector-Borne Disease Request for Proposals [1]

Description

As new vector-borne pathogens continue to be identified and the spread of tick-borne disease (TBD) rises, the AKC Canine Health Foundation continues its commitment to address this emergent issue by funding critical research to diagnose, prevent and treat vector-borne diseases in dogs. Diseases of interest include, but are not limited to, heartworm disease, leishmaniasis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, hepatozoonosis, babesiosis, bartonellosis, hemotropic mycoplasmosis, and Lyme disease. The Foundation supports a One Health and multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the health needs of all dogs and their people.

CHF is seeking innovative approaches to vector-borne diseases (VBD), including the study of co-infections.

Proposals may address any of the following areas:

1. Generation of improved and innovative diagnostics for important vector-borne diseases of dogs
2. Novel approaches to safe and effective preventives, including interruption of pathogen transmission from vector to host
3. New treatments, including non-antimicrobial and immunotherapeutic approaches to infection/co-infections, and issues of resistance
4. Documentation of treatment protocols and measured response for specific vector-borne diseases
5. Pathophysiology and the role of persistent infection in chronic disease causation; Lyme disease in dogs is of particular interest
6. Surveillance and epidemiological studies, including those addressing public health especially for newly-emerging vector-borne diseases, and for at-risk populations of dogs. Epidemiological survey to find out if the use of isoxazolines has an impact on the prevalence of TBD/VBD compared to dogs treated with other ectoparasiticide-classes
7. Surveillance and epidemiological studies including those addressing the influence of human practices on vector-borne disease in dogs (e.g. pet/human travel, translocation of pet animals, and COVID-19 regulatory influences of pet management and veterinary care)

Funding Availability

Both Acorn ($15,000 maximum including 8% maximum indirect costs) and Oak ($15,000 - $50,000 including 8% maximum indirect costs) grant proposals that can be completed within the budget will be accepted for review.

Indirect Costs

8%

Special Notes

Please note that research activities carried out in the context of COVID-19 need to adhere to the University of Guelph COVID-19 research principles, policies, guidelines and processes as they may be updated from time to time and communicated on the Office of Research web-page [2].

How to Apply

AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) Research Proposal and Application Checklist [4]

and

2022 Vector-Borne Disease Request for Proposals (RFP) [1]