In 2025, we have partnered with BSAVA affiliate group the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society to offer grants to clinical research projects in this specialist area of interest.
PetSavers and the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society will jointly fund up to two clinical research grants each year into cardiovascular studies in companion animals. The grant offers up to £10,000 of funding over 1-3 years.
“Ours is a constantly evolving field and only through research can we improve professional standards. Whilst many commonly-held beliefs are true, many are not, and a big part of the enjoyment of research is disproving some of those beliefs.”
Dave Dickson, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cardiology, HeartVets.
Read more about Dave’s journey to becoming a researcher into dyspnoeic cats through his experiences in first opinion practice.
“If we can discover a genetic association with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in our GENDEER study, we hope to provide a DNA test that will allow even earlier diagnosis of DCM to help prevent breeding from potentially affected [deer]hounds.”
Emily Dutton, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology, Cheshire Cardiology.
Read more about how Emily’s research could help breeder decision-making and overall breed health in deerhounds here.
You don’t need to be a qualified veterinary professional to apply, but we expect applicants to have a level of veterinary experience appropriate for the project. At least the main applicant should be a member of the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society.
The 2025 grant call for joint-funded Clinical Research Projects (CRPs) is now now closed and will open again on the 1st March 2026. 2025 applicants will be notified if they have been successful in October 2025. Find dates for all our grant calls on our grant calendar or sign up to receive email notifications when grant calls open.
Please note that the use of experimental animals is not permitted in any work funded by BSAVA PetSavers, and this includes work on tissues derived from experimental animals. Visit our Guidance for Applicants page to read our full statement on experimental animals, view eligibility criteria and guidance on designing a robust research project.
