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ACORN Research Grants: Small Grants for Quick Results
Award Decisions within 90 days

CHF ACORN Applications welcome throughout the year and reviewed monthly!
CHF ACORN Applications are now submitted online!

ACORNs, one type of grant offered through CHF, are of $12,000 or less (plus 8% indirect costs) for a term of 12 months or less. There is no grant cycle. Applications may be submitted at any time, and notice of Award decisions will be made within 90 days of application submission.

The ACORN program is designed to allow researchers to complete small, relatively short timeframe projects, test research hypotheses, and/or generate preliminary data for possible future grant proposals as larger scale or longer term studies. Payments for ACORN grants are made in two equal payments upon the start of the grant and upon completion. A progress reports are required to be submitted at the completion of the project. The Final Payment is dependent on the timely submission and approval of progress report.

Start a new application online at New ACORN Application. If you are returning to work on a saved application, go to Continue CHF Applications. A tutorial presentation is available to help assist in using the online submission (click here.)

ACORN Guidelines:

  • Research - Major goals of the Foundation include funding projects that utilize new genetic technologies, developing improved molecular and diagnostic tools, and providing evidence-based information for breeding decisions. The Foundation is also interested in clinical research on the health of dogs, especially findings with the potential for near term applicability and positive impact on the health of dogs.
  • Applicants – Applications are sought from researchers from a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, veterinary researchers, geneticists, and molecular biological scientists. Collaborative projects involving investigators from a variety of disciplines and/or institutions, including human health researchers, are encouraged to apply.
  • Significance - Proposals should include the incidence of the particular disease on specific breeds of dogs and/or the canine population in general. Researchers should also clearly articulate the potential impact of their proposed research on the health of dogs or the understanding of the basis of the canine disease being studied.
  • Indirect Costs - These costs should be included for all proposed budgets for university or institution-based projects at a maximum level of 8%.
  • Items Ineligible for Funding - CHF does not fund salaries of tenure-track or professional investigators/statisticians, purchase or repair of equipment, purchase of computers or software, custom software, tuition, travel to meetings, nor purchase or transport of dogs.
  • Animal Use and Care - Investigations involving research animals must gain permission from their institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) and comply with current institutional, USDA, or NIH Care and Use of Laboratory Animal guidelines. Funded projects must be performed in a manner that protects animals from unnecessary pain. Funding will not be provided for procedures or experiments involving disease or injury induction and/or euthanasia of healthy dogs. In addition, CHF does not support the establishment or maintenance of research dog colonies.

Notice for Genetic Researchers:
The CHIC DNA Repository has canine DNA samples available to genetic researchers. The CHIC DNA Repository, co-sponsored by OFA and CHF, collects and stores canine DNA samples along with corresponding genealogic and updated health information to facilitate future research and testing aimed at reducing the incidence of inherited disease in dogs. The goals of the CHIC DNA Repository are to:

  • Facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process
  • Provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research
  • Foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community improving the likelihood of genetic discovery

Any genetic researcher may apply to have access to these samples and any CHF funded project is pre-approved this access.
The database for the CHIC DNA Repository has the capability to record the existence of DNA samples located at outside research institutions to assistance in collaboration between researchers. CHF requests that the existence of DNA samples collected with CHF funding be submitted to the CHIC DNA Repository upon completion of the research project and publication of the results.

ACORN Grant Application Instructions

To submit an application you must complete a short form online and attach a PDF Research Proposal. The information entered online must match your proposal exactly.

1) Online Form – Required. Start a new application online at New ACORN Application. If you are returning to work on a saved application, go to Continue CHF Applications. A tutorial presentation is available to help assist in using the online submission (click here.) Information to be entered in the online form includes:

  • Title of the proposed study
  • Research Organization
  • Principal Investigator
  • Co-Principle Investigator
  • Duration of the project
  • Total amount requested in US Dollars
  • Lay Abstract (limit to 250 words) - Statement of Research Problem and Objectives in lay language for public audiences

2) Research Proposal – Required. Upload PDF attachment to the online form. (limit to 15 pages)
An application template is available (click here.) Format information for the research proposal is: Font Style: Arial or Times New Roman; Font Size: 12 pt; Margins: 1 inch
A. Cover Page

  • Title of the proposed study
  • Research Organization
  • Principal Investigator(s)
  • Indicate if the application is a resubmission.
  • Duration of the project in months
  • Total amount requested in US Dollars
  • Lay Abstract (limit to 250 words) - Statement of Research Problem and Objectives in lay language for public audiences

B. Study Proposal

i. Scientific Summary (250 words or less)
ii. Statement of Purpose/Hypothesis/Objectives

  • Specific objectives (must be different from ongoing or pending research)

iii. Background of Proposed Research

  • Significance to Canine Health (If applicable, significance to specific breeds)
  • Brief Literature Review
  • Preliminary Studies - Description of preliminary data that supports the hypothesis. Please indicate if previous CHF funding was used to generate the data.

iv. Experimental Methods and Design

  • Detailed description about methods to be used for each objective.

iv. Animals (limit 100 words)

  • Since CHF has restrictions on dogs used in research, please clearly indicate where the participating dogs and/or samples will be obtained. Specific treatment protocols for the animals should be included in the Experimental Methods and Design. CHF will not fund the purchase of dogs, dog research colonies, projects involving disease induction or injury models in dogs, or euthanasia of healthy dogs.

v. Expected outcome, significance and application of findings
vi. Anticipated Problems or Obstacles

C. List of Investigators

D. References

E. Budget Estimates

  • Cost Estimates based on the below categories
    • Salary (non-tenured, non-tenure track, non-professional investigators)
    • Supplies and Reagents
    • Clinical Tests
    • Sample Collection Expenses
    • Other (please specify)
    • Institutional Indirect Costs (Max of 8%)
  • CHF does not financially support the following:
    • Salary of tenure-track faculty (university) or professional, salaried senior-staff (non-profit or for-profit)
    • Laboratory equipment, repair or non-disposable parts
    • Computer equipment
    • Computer software
    • Development of custom-designed computer software
    • Tuition or registration fees for classes, training, or conferences
    • Travel expenses for any purpose, except those directly related to sample procurement (example: dog shows)
    • Transportation of dogs

F. Project Timeline

  • Identify intermediate project milestones with dates for specific objectives to be completed.

G. Additional Funding

  • Current and Pending Funding Sources for research on proposed topic and related-research topics.

3) Signature Page – Required. To submit an application you must attach a PDF Signature Page. Upload an one page PDF attachment to the online form which includes the signatures of the Principal Investigator(s) and the Organization's Grant Officer. This page should have much of the cover page information. A signature page application template is available (click here.)

  • Title of the proposed study
  • Research Organization
  • Principal Investigator(s)
  • Indicate if the application is a resubmission
  • Duration of the project in months
  • Total amount requested in US Dollars
  • Signatures

4) Recommendation Letters – Optional. Upload a single PDF attachment to the online form contained recommendation letters from Breed Clubs or co-investigators.

How To Submit
Start a new application online at New ACORN Application. If you are returning to work on a saved application, go to Continue CHF Applications. A tutorial presentation is available to help assist in using the online submission (click here.)

Once your proposal is submitted, it cannot be changed. Please review and/or print before clicking "Submit."

If you do not receive a confirmation email, contact the office at 888-682-9696.

Questions:
Dr. Christine Haakenson, Director of Research
CLH@caninehealthfoundation.org, 1-888-682-9696


If you have question please contact us.
 
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