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  1. The Animal Welfare Foundation
  2. Research
  3. Research Call 2025

Research Call 2026

The 2026 Research Call is now open

If you are a researcher or practising vet/vet nurse with innovative research project ideas that could improve the lives of managed species in the UK, you could apply for funding for your research project and shape the future of animal welfare science.

Full details

Application form

Applications are being accepted until midnight on Sunday 10 May 2026.

Type of research

Researcher led projects with a clear focus on animal welfare in any species. Practising vets or vet nurses, with research experience, are welcome to apply.

Grant amount

A total of £80,000 is available, which may be used to fund more than one project.

Eligibility

The principal investigator should have a demonstrable research track record and be based in the UK

Publication

The research should be appropriate for publishing in a peer-reviewed journal with open access

Impact

Projects should be relevant to veterinary and allied professionals in the UK and have the potential for practical solutions

Knowledge exchange

Projects that are able to deliver impact and have a strong knowledge exchange plan outlined will score highly

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News

  1. Animal Welfare Foundation launches joint funding with BSAVA PetSavers

    We’ve partnered with BSAVA PetSavers to jointly fund a Master’s Degree by Research in animal welfare. The grant will offer up to £42,000 to cover a postgraduate student stipend at […]
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  2. Meet our researcher: Lesley Jessiman

      Lesley Jessiman is a psychologist working with the animal behaviour and welfare team at Scotland Rural University College (SRUC). She is working with Dr Emma Baxter on the AWF-funded […]
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  3. Beyond the Box: Animal welfare in pig and poultry confinement systems – Session summary

    On Thursday, 14th November, the AWF hosted an engaging and thought-provoking session at the London Vet Show, exploring the impacts of confinement systems on animal welfare while addressing broader societal, […]
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  4. Meet our researcher: Dr Lindsay Henderson

    Dr Lindsay Henderson is a researcher at The Roslin Institute, specialising in avian behaviour, physiology, and welfare. She also serves as the Academic Liaison for the National Avian Research Facility […]
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  5. Meet our researchers: Niamh Mahon and Beth Clark

    Niamh Mahon is an environmental social scientist, with an interdisciplinary background, working in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) group at the James Hutton Institute. Beth Clark is Lecturer […]
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  6. Student to Entrepreneur: Jillian Gordon’s AWF Student Grant Journey 

    In 2018, University of Edinburgh student Jillian Gordon received an AWF student grant to investigate the relationship between dairy cattle grimace expressions and post-mortem dental health. Her project uncovered alarming […]
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  7. Meet our student researchers: Chloe Crichton Feddo

    Chloë Crichton is a third-year student in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. She received an AWF student grant for a research project Investigating the cross-species emotional contagion […]
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  8. Meet our student researchers: Skye Kenny

    Skye Kenny just graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BSc (Hons) in Animal and Conservation Biology. As a nature lover and passionate of all things equine, Skye chose to […]
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  9. Meet our researchers: Mary Baxter and Niamh O’Connell

    Mary Baxter is a post-doctoral researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, working in poultry behaviour and welfare. Niamh Elizabeth O’Connell is Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the School of […]
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  10. How you can make a difference while you study through an AWF student grant – Kathryn Owen

    This article was published in Vet Record Careers on 24th September 2022. Read here. I am proud to say that 20 years later than I originally planned, in July 2022, […]
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