Avian Health Grant Opportunities

Avian Health Grant Opportunities is a grant from the Association of Avian Veterinarians that funds research addressing clinical aspects of captive bird health, with a focus on companion and zoological species. Priority areas include diagnostic testing, disease treatment, drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and practice management.

Preference is given to proposals relating to companion bird species, though strong proposals focused on zoological species are also considered. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Award amounts vary by project.

**Avian Health Grant Opportunity** Pre-proposals for research projects addressing clinical aspects of captive bird health (companion and zoological species) are now being accepted for consideration for funding by the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, diagnostic testing, disease treatment, drug pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and practice management.

Preference will be given to grant submissions relating to avian species traditionally kept as companions or to projects in which the major findings are relevant to companion species, however strong proposals relating only to zoological species will also be considered.

For the purposes of this grant, companion birds are defined as “species normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for such animals” and can include companion poultry and species used for falconry. **Grants are limited to $10,000. 00 US for individual projects.

** **Special Grant Funding for Avian Health Research** **Up to $20,000 Available! ** **For 2026**, a special grant of **up to $20,000**is available for projects related to pet birds. This funding is made possible by a donation from Harrison’s Bird Foods.

Projects focused on the following topics are of particular interest: * Effects of diet on avian health and wellness * Behavioral and environmental factors influencing avian nutrition * Impact of nutrition on avian reproduction and growth * And other nutrition-related projects This funding, in line with Harrison's dedication to bird welfare, will support veterinary professionals and researchers in pursuing innovative approaches to critical avian health challenges.

The AAV is deeply grateful to Harrison’s Bird Foods for this generous contribution, which will significantly enhance our ability to fund impactful avian health initiatives. Completed pre-proposals (two-page form only) must be received by**11:59pm EST, January 9, 2026. ** Final proposals will be invited on or around February 16, 2026.

These requests for full proposals are upon invitation only, based on the evaluation of the pre-proposal, and must be received by 5:00pm EDT (New York City), **May 1, 2026**. Grant awards will be announced by July 1, 2026. Please direct submission to the AAV Executive Director, Elizabeth Mackey: grants.

awards. scholarships@aav. org.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure delivery of the pre-proposal. If acknowledgement is not received within 7 days of submission, applicant should contact Executive Director at 720-458-4111 ext 1. **Overview of Project Guidelines** The full project, or portion of the project for which funding is requested, must be completed within one (1) calendar year upon acceptance.

Costs such as travel expenses, publication costs, investigator or assistant salaries, major equipment purchases, and overhead shall not be funded by the AAV. All prospective research studies funded by the AAV must receive full approval by the facility’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent research review entity.

If IACUC (or equivalent) approval is pending at the time of full proposal submission to the AAV, proof of subsequent complete approval must be made available to the AAV before funds can be released for the research project.

Although not a mandatory requirement for funding, selected investigators are strongly encouraged to publish their results in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery (JAMS) and/or submit presentation proposals for the annual conference of the AAV. Selected investigators may be granted a 12-month extension provided a written research update is provided to AAV at the end of the first calendar year from funding.

All investigators will be required to submit a final research report as described in theAAV Research Project Final Report template. **Research Grant Pre-proposal Guidelines 2026** Specific Requirements and Limitations * No more than two (2) pre-proposals may be submitted per researcher.

* For pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, drugs under investigation must be fully approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). * For prospective live bird research studies involving anesthesia or invasive surgery or surgery that causes a permanent change in the animal, a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM or equivalent) must be listed as the principal investigator or co-investigator.

* All prospective live animal studies funded by the AAV must receive full approval by the facility’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent research review entity. If IACUC (or equivalent) approval is pending at the time of full proposal submission to the AAV, proof of subsequent complete approval must be made available to the AAV before funds will be released for the research project.

Contract and Final Report * The selected principal investigator will be required to sign theAAV Research Grant Agreementupon selection as a grant awardee. * Principal investigator must also submit theAAV Research Project Final Reportupon completion of the project.