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

Rising Researcher Program

Through this program, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) invest in the next generation of canine health researchers, offering postdoctoral researchers a unique opportunity to advance the health of dogs while developing their careers as emerging scientists.

Purpose of this Grant

The Rising Researcher Program aims to support early-career,
canine health researchers by funding their research and promote career development. The program is designed to foster independent scientific careers by providing up to three years of support for projects that address significant health priorities in dogs. Applicants may submit proposals under the Acorn or Oak grant categories, depending on the project’s scope and budget.

Who is Eligible

Eligible applicants for the Rising Researcher Program must have
a PhD, DVM, VMD, or equivalent professional doctorate and must not hold a faculty appointment at the time of the award. At the time of application, they must actively be under the mentorship of an Associate or Full Professor with an established canine health research program. Applicants should be able to commit at least 50% of their time to the proposed project and must not have other pending or funded CHF grant proposals.

This program encourages the development of independent researchers dedicated to advancing the field of canine health, and grants are awarded based on both research merit and career development potential.

Rising Researcher

Investigator with a PhD, DVM, VMD or equivalent professional or clinical doctoral degree with no faculty appointment.

FUNDING HIGHLIGHTS

Measure the Impact of the Rising Researcher Program

2024

Marked the beginning of CHF’s commitment to the investment of the program.

3

Significant areas of canine health addressed by rising researcher applicants.

2

Countries requesting funding opportunities.

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

Cornell University Logo
2026 Active Grant
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residencies $299,984.00
03458-E: Cornell University 2026 Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Christopher W. Frye, DVM, DACVSMR, CVA
2026 Active Grant
Theriogenology Residencies $128,883.00
03459-E: University of Missouri 2026 Small Animal Theriogenology Residency
Researcher(s): Julia M. Baldrighi,, DVM, PhD
2026 Active Grant
Theriogenology Residencies $149,979.00
03461-E: The Ohio State University 2026 Small Animal Theriogenology Residency
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Dr. Erin E Runcan, DVM
University of Minnesota Logo
2026 Active Grant
Kidney & Urological Disease $127,166.00
03572: The impact of genetic, metabolic, and clinical risk factors for calcium oxalate urolith recurrence in dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Eva Furrow
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
North Carolina State University Logo
2026 Active Grant
Kidney & Urological Disease $121,165.15
03463: Efficacy of Alkaline Therapy as a Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Autumn N Harris, DVM, DACVIM
2026 Active Grant
General Canine Health $18,000.00
03732-R: Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP) 2026
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Starr Cameron, BVetMed
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Logo
2026 Active Grant
Skin & Allergies $73,191.00
03433: Identification of commensal skin bacteria that inhibit the growth of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and their associated bacteriocins
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Jessica Gilbertie
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
Immunology and Infectious Disease $209,770.00
03385: Prevalence and Risk Assessment of Heterobilharzia americana in Dogs and Freshwater Sources in the Southwestern United States
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Adler R Dillman, PhD

Explore All Investigator Opportunities

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