These grants are available for the undertaking of small-scale clinical research projects (CRPs) in companion animals, with the ultimate objective of advancing understanding of the causes and/or management of a clinical disorder.

Applications from practitioners, academics, as well as joint applications between practice and academia are all welcome. We have removed the requirement for at least one applicant to be a qualified veterinary professional, but expect applicants to have a level of veterinary experience appropriate for the project.

Funding of up to £20,000 is available to cover a 1-3 year project. These funds can be used to pay for research expenses and consumables, and up to 30% can be used for research-specific staffing costs. Projects must be carried out within the UK. The use of experimental animals is not permitted in any work funded by BSAVA PetSavers, which includes work on tissues derived from experimental animals.

Applicants from veterinary practice who do not have access to ethical review through a university are advised to apply through the RCVS Ethics Review Panel. The funding decision of the grant awarding committee is final.

Projects are selected in the hope that study results will have a rapid and positive impact on the way diseases are diagnosed, managed and treated in general practice as well as at a specialist level.

 

The 2024 CRP grant call is now open. Applications can be submitted until midnight on May 15th in any area of disease affecting companion animals. We are also offering a specific CRP grant of up to £20,000 to investigate disease that Bull Terriers are susceptible to. This is made possible by a very generous legacy left to us by Terry Heath

 

*Our application form and terms and conditions have recently been revised. Please make sure to access the latest versions under Useful resources below.

 


How to apply

Read our helpful guidance on applying for a BSAVA PetSavers’ grant

  1. Complete the application form (below – making sure to fill in the checklist at the back of the form, provide the names and contact details of three reviewers with whom you have no conflicts of interest, and provide truncated CVs for each grant applicant).
  2. Obtain a letter of support from your head of department or practice principal.
  3. Obtain, or at the very least apply for, ethical approval for your project and provide supporting evidence of this.
  4. Complete our terms and conditions (below) by obtaining signatures from the main applicant (supervisor) and authorised representative of the institution.
  5. Email all documents to petsaversadmin@bsava.com.

Useful resources

CRP application form
CRP terms and conditions
CRP report form – this is for successful applicants to use once research has commenced


**Joint-funded clinical research projects**

We also support specialist areas of veterinary science by partnering with BSAVA affiliates and other organisations that share our principles to jointly fund CRPs. Currently, these include cardiovascular health, pain management, and canine and feline medicine and science.

Find out more and apply here


 

Find out about our other funding opportunities

Need inspiration? Read about projects that we have previously funded