Advance veterinary science with a ‘Blue Sky’ research grant

The RCVS Charitable Trust is offering two ‘Blue Sky’ grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 for basic or pure research intended to advance veterinary science.

This funding is offered for veterinary scientific research projects which meet our interests in innovation and development

Applications may be made for either an ‘open’ grant or a Robert Daubney Fellowship.

Both are open to academic staff and students within UK veterinary schools; however, the Robert Daubney Fellowship is granted specifically for research within the fields of virology and helminthology, and has additional criteria including that applicants must be on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Surgeons, and hold a postgraduate veterinary qualification.

“This funding is offered for veterinary scientific research projects which meet our interests in innovation and development,” says Cherry Bushell, the Trust’s Director.

“In particular, pilot projects aiming to show a ‘proof of concept’ as a first stage of a more substantial project will be looked on favourably – if the project can then attract support from major funders this is likely to have more impact over the longer term.”

The Trust aims to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with grant recipients, and innovative and exciting projects which can respond to these objectives through the grant-giving process and beyond are also preferred.

Further information, including full application criteria, is available from http://trust.rcvs.org.uk/grants.

Preliminary applications should be made via the head of a UK veterinary school, and submitted to the Trust by 20 May 2011.