Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

Acorn Grants

These grants provide funding of up to $30,000 to support small, short-term projects.

Purpose of this Grant

Acorn Grants are designed to fund projects that can be completed with less than $30,000 and often in a shorter timeframe. These grants help get projects launched by supporting the initial stages of new avenues. Investigators use this seed funding to test new ideas and generate preliminary data, which can then be used to secure funding for larger-scale or longer-term studies. These larger studies are often funded through Oak Grants, named after Raleigh, NC, the “City of Oaks” and headquarters of CHF.

Who is Eligible

Acorn Grants are available to research scientists, veterinary clinical scientists, or collaborative research teams working together on canine health studies. Applicants should be exploring innovative ideas or new methods to address key health priorities for dogs. These grants are ideal for investigators aiming to lay the groundwork for larger grants or researchers from diverse fields applying their expertise to canine health.

Research Scientists

Investigators with a demonstrated research interest and strong focus on canine health.

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Veterinary Clinical Scientists

Clinicians in specialized disciplines such as cardiology, oncology, or surgery.

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Researcher Collaborations

Collaborative teams with multidisciplinary expertise exploring new avenues in canine health research.

FUNDING HIGHLIGHTS

Measuring the Impact of Acorn Grants

463

Grants funded to date, investing in studies that generate data for future research.

$5M

Funding distributed to support innovative projects in canine health discovery.

100+

Institutions or universities that have received Acorn grants worldwide.

Taking The Next Step

Ready to apply? Visit our Request for Proposal page to stay updated on upcoming funding opportunities and get prepared to submit your application when the next cycle opens. Be sure to review the guidelines and eligibility requirements in advance.

Grants

2026 Active Grant
Epilepsy $15,237.50
03635-A: Epidemiology and clinical features of idiopathic epilepsy in Irish Wolfhounds: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study
Breed(s): Irish Wolfhound
Researcher(s): Yoshihiko Yu
2026 Active Grant
Ophthalmology $29,441.00
03670-A: The Molecular Genetic Basis for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Berger Picard Dogs
Breed(s): Berger Picard
Researcher(s): Martin L. Katz, PhD
University of Guelph Logo
2026 Active Grant
Neurology $14,285.88
03681-A: Clinical Utility of Quantitative Pupillometry in Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Alex Chan
2026 Active Grant
Neurology $23,035.00
03467-A: Validation of Circulating microRNA Biomarkers to Predict Neurologic Outcomes in Dogs with Severe Spinal Cord Injury
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Dr. Ji-Hey Lim, DVM, PhD
Michigan State University Logo
2026 Active Grant
General Canine Health $28,484.35
03574-A: Development of an Antibiotic Susceptibility Protocol and Genetic Characterization of Canine Mycoplasmas
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Rinosh Joshua Mani
2026 Active Grant
Epilepsy $21,620.00
03659-A: Evaluating Long-chain Fatty Acids as a Nutritional Biomarker in Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy.
Breed(s): Australian Shepherd
Researcher(s): Go Togawa, DVM MSc PhD
2026 Active Grant
Oncology - Lymphoma $29,900.00
03474-A: Engineering Cytokine-Receptor–Enhanced CAR T Cells to Achieve Long-Term Persistence and Durable Remission in Canine B-Cell Lymphoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Anthony J Mutsaers, DVM, PhD
2026 Active Grant
Endocrinology $19,634.00
03387-AT: Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Activation Interferes with Canine Thyroid Hormone Secretion in Response to Thyroid Stimulating Hormone In Vitro
Researcher(s): Dr. Michelle Ann Kutzler, DVM, PhD
2026 Active Grant
Endocrinology $28,423.00
03486-A: Identifying Risk Factors for the Development of Persistent Proteinuria in Dogs with Hypercortisolism being Treated with Trilostane
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Madeleine R Stein, BVetMed
2026 Active Grant
Oncology - Lymphoma $3,780.00
03526-A: Identification of a tumor cell associated protein target and development of a therapeutic nanobody for the treatment of canine B cell lymphoma.
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Anna Blockeel
2026 Active Grant
Nervous System Health $15,086.16
03514-A: Optimizing Pain Control with Epidural Anesthesia in Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease Surgery
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Alex Chan
Cornell University Logo
2026 Active Grant
Oncology - General $25,001.00
03483-A: Identification of genetic risk factors underlying canine gastric cancer intestinal and diffuse tumor subtypes
Breed(s): Belgian Tervuren
Researcher(s): Jacquelyn M Evans
2026 Active Grant
Oncology - Hemangiosarcoma $27,935.80
03557-A: Evaluation of utility of cell-free DNA assessment in canine pericardial effusion
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Yoshimi Iwaki
Cornell University Logo
2026 Active Grant
Immunology and Infectious Disease $30,000.00
03565-A: How sugar molecules on dog antibodies could reveal clues about lymphoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Sarah Louise Caddy
University of Cambridge Logo
2025 Active Grant
Nervous System Health $24,540.00
03327-A: Understanding megaesophagus, a step closer to its treatment
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): An E. Vanhaesebrouck, DVM, CEAV, DECVN, DPhil, MRCVS, EBVS

Explore All Investigator Opportunities

Discover a range of funding options designed to support and advance your research in canine health.