Centenary Research Award for Animal Welfare

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

The Centenary Research Award provides major research funding for projects addressing significant animal welfare challenges or fundamental questions in animal welfare science. The award supports research with the potential to make a meaningful difference to animal welfare while advancing scientific knowledge. Proposals are expected to demonstrate strong scientific novelty and rigour, substantial potential impact, and benefits for the career development of the researchers involved. Researchers from anywhere in the world can apply, provided the principal applicant is affiliated with a research institute or organization capable of hosting the project and administering the grant.

About the Centenary Research Award

The Centenary Research Award is designed to support high-quality research addressing important issues in animal welfare. The programme focuses on two broad types of research: - Research addressing a major animal welfare challenge. - Research exploring a fundamental question in animal welfare science. Projects should demonstrate why the proposed research matters and how its findings could contribute to improving animal welfare or advancing the scientific understanding of animal welfare. What Is a Major Animal Welfare Challenge? A major animal welfare challenge is assessed based on factors including: - The severity of the welfare problem. - The duration of the welfare problem. - The number of animals affected. - The number of animals at risk. Applicants should demonstrate the scale and importance of the welfare challenge their project seeks to address. Research proposals should make a compelling case for why the issue represents a significant priority for animal welfare. Research on Fundamental Questions in Animal Welfare Science The award is also open to projects investigating fundamental questions in animal welfare science. These projects do not necessarily need to address one specific large-scale welfare problem. Instead, they should generate important scientific knowledge that can improve understanding of animal welfare. Applicants should clearly establish the scientific importance of their research question and demonstrate how the proposed work could contribute to the development of animal welfare science. Potential Impact on Animal Welfare A central consideration for the award is the potential impact of the proposed research. Applicants should explain how their findings could ultimately contribute to better animal welfare. The proposal should establish a clear connection between: - The research problem. - The proposed scientific approach. - The expected findings. - The potential contribution to animal welfare. Projects with substantial potential to improve understanding or outcomes in animal welfare are particularly relevant to the objectives of the award. Scientific Novelty and Rigour Successful proposals are expected to demonstrate both scientific novelty and rigour. Applicants should present a research approach that is: - Scientifically well-founded. - Methodologically rigorous. - Clearly justified. - Capable of producing meaningful results. - Novel in its contribution to animal welfare science. The proposal should explain why the chosen approach is appropriate for answering the research question or addressing the welfare challenge. Researcher Career Development The Centenary Research Award also considers the career development of the researchers involved in the project. Applicants should demonstrate how undertaking the proposed research can contribute to the development of researchers’ skills, experience, expertise, and research careers. This makes the award relevant not only to the advancement of animal welfare science but also to the development of the research community working in the field. How Much Funding Is Available? The award provides funding of up to: £250,000 This is approximately $317,500. The funding can be used to cover: - Researcher salaries. - Eligible research costs. - Other necessary project expenses within the scope of the award. The funding is intended to support a substantial research project rather than a short-term study. Project Duration Funded projects are expected to last between: - Two years, at minimum. - Four years, at maximum. Applicants should develop a realistic research plan that can be completed within the proposed project period. The anticipated start date for successful projects is late 2027 or early 2028. Who Can Apply? Applicants from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply. However, the principal applicant must be affiliated with a research institute or organization that is capable of: - Hosting the research project. - Administering the awarded funds. This means that applicants must have an appropriate institutional structure to undertake and manage the proposed research. International Eligibility The award is not restricted to researchers from a particular country or region. Researchers worldwide can apply as long as the principal applicant meets the institutional affiliation requirement. This international eligibility allows researchers working in different academic and research environments to propose projects addressing important animal welfare questions. Institutional Host Requirement The principal applicant must be affiliated with a research institute or organization capable of hosting the project and administering the funding. Applicants should therefore ensure that their institutional affiliation provides the necessary administrative and research infrastructure to manage the award. Co-Funded Projects Co-funded projects are welcome under the programme but are not required. Applicants may therefore propose a project supported solely through the Centenary Research Award or include additional funding sources where appropriate. The availability of co-funding does not appear to be a mandatory condition for eligibility based on the information provided. Budget and Overheads The award does not typically cover u