The USDA dedicates funding to increase animal health and disease research activities at accredited public or private veterinary schools or colleges through the Animal Health and Disease Research (AHDR) formula or capacity program. The amount of funds provided to each institution is determined by statutorily defined formulas, including variables such as the rural population, number of farms, and poverty. University leaders decide the specific projects that will be supported by an institution’s capacity grant allotment, which must be aligned with NIFA-approved plans of work. ISU CVM typically receives enough funding to support 5-7 seed grant projects fulfilling these criteria.
The purpose of the AHDR program is to increase animal health and disease research activities at accredited public or private veterinary schools or colleges, or state agricultural experiment stations that conduct animal health and disease research. The AHDR program is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Goals:
1. Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers to Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World; (Objective 2.3), to protect agricultural health by preventing and mitigating the spread of agricultural pests and disease; and
2. Strategic Goal 7: Provide all Americans Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food Supply.
Scope of Research Allowed
The scope of the research which may be conducted with AHDR funds is quite broad. It includes research to promote the general welfare through improved health and productivity of domestic livestock, poultry, aquatic animals, and other income-producing animals which are essential to the nation’s food supply and the welfare of producers and consumers of animal products; to improve the health of horses; to facilitate the effective treatment of, and where possible, prevent, diseases in both domesticated and wild species which, if not controlled, would be disastrous to the United States animal industries and endanger the nation’s food supply; to minimize livestock and poultry losses due to transportation and handling; to protect human health through control of animal diseases transmissible to humans; to improve methods of controlling reproduction of predators and other animals; and otherwise to promote the general welfare through expanded programs of research and extension to improve animal health.
Animal Health Research comprises basic and applied studies on infectious and noninfectious agents which impair the normal state of the animal body and/or that affect the performance of vital functions. This includes research to improve the health of domestic livestock, poultry, aquatic animals and other income-producing animals and to facilitate the effective prevention of diseases in both domesticated and wild animals which, if not controlled, would endanger the livestock and poultry industries.
Also included is research to minimize transportation and handling losses; monitor the suitability of animals and animal products for human use; protect public health through control of animal diseases transmissible to humans and improve methods of controlling the reproduction of predators.
Studies are classified as AHDR if the studies relate directly to the health of a target livestock, poultry or aquatic animal species and includes laboratory studies, research on animal care as it relates to livestock health and well-being, investigations of metabolic diseases and reproductive diseases including endocrine dysfunctions such as anestrus. Application of molecular biology to animal health problems is included.
Limits: research in nutrition, if no disease is produced or under study; research on reproductive biology per se is not included; research to improve performance is not included except as it relates to improved health. The AHDR Program was enacted to address health and disease problems that exist pre-slaughter or pre-collection of animal products (pre-harvest). So called “post-harvest problems” (post-slaughter or post-collection) of animal products are not included even though these are extremely important and closely related to pre-harvest problems.
Animal Health and Disease Research (AHDR) Seed Grants
Proposals due September 23, 2024, 11:59pm
Eligibility
- The principal investigator (PI) must have a regular appointment at the ISU College of Veterinary of Medicine and be eligible to serve as PI under the VPR eligibility guidelines. However, faculty members in other colleges, graduate students, postdocs, or any other qualified researcher are permitted and encouraged to serve as co-investigators or collaborators.
- Researchers may serve as investigators/collaborators on up to two proposals, but as PI on only one.
- PI’s are limited to one USDA Capacity: AHDR seed grant award per cycle, which includes both new and continuation (second year) awards.
- Preference will be given to early career faculty, established faculty changing directions, or projects that foster collaboration between clinical and basic sciences.
Maximum Award
$20,000 limit per year for one- or two-year projects. Second year of funding is awarded based on progress, as determined by review of the continuation proposal, and availability of funds.
New Proposal Guidelines
Proposals must include the following (printable format):
A. Cover Page (one page: suggested format):
- Project title
- Names, departments, and signatures of investigators and collaborators
- Funds requested for the first year ($20,000 maximum)
- Duration of project (1 or 2 years)
- Signatures of respective department chairs
B. Project Summary (one page) a 200- to 300-word summary of the project which includes a statement of the problem, hypothesis to be tested, research plan, and expected results.
C. Body of Proposal (maximum of six pages, single-spaced) including:
- Statement of the problem/hypothesis and objectives/aims
- Relevant background information and preliminary data (where available)
- Significance and innovation
- Plan of work: Approach, methodologies, and timetable
- Plan for extramural grant submissions and potential for successfully competing for extramural funding.
D. References (one page, single-spaced)
E. Biographical Sketch (maximum of one page for each investigator, single-spaced) including name, title, education (undergraduate, professional, graduate, postdoctoral), research and professional experience, and up to 10 recent publications.
F. Budget and Budget Justification (one page total; no indirect costs and no tuition; For a two year project, only 1st year budget is submitted.)
Continuation Proposal Guidelines
Proposals must include the following (printable format):
A. Cover Page (one page: suggested template)
- Project title
- Name, department, and signatures of investigators and collaborators
- Proposal Type: Continuation
- Funds requested for the next year ($20,000 maximum)
- Signatures of respective department chairs
B. Project Summary (one page) 200-300 summary of the project including a statement of the problem, hypothesis to be tested, accomplishments made during the first year, plan for the second year, and the overall impact.
C. Progress-to-date (maximum of two pages) including progress on each objective/aim, list of extramural grants submitted and status (funded, not funded, or pending; include review scores if applicable), presentations and publications.
D. Plan for the next year (maximum of two pages) including objectives, research approach, expected results and outcomes, and plans for extramural grant submission.
E. Budget and Budget Justification (one page total for 2nd year budget; no indirect costs; and no tuition)
Proposal Review
Proposals will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee composed of members of the CVM Research Advisory Committee and other CVM faculty members. Two reviewers will perform a comprehensive review of the proposal, rating it according to review criteria and providing a written evaluation. Reviewers then present the proposal at a panel review session where all proposals are ranked.
Review Criteria
- Significance: How well does this study address an important problem that is relevant to the funding program?
- Approach: How well are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project?
- Innovation: To what degree did the PI put together an original and innovative project?
- Investigators: How well suited and appropriately trained are the investigators to carry out this work? Is the work appropriate to the experience level of the PI and other researchers?
- Evidence of Progress (continuing projects only): Has satisfactory progress been made in the previous year? Have efforts been made for seeking extramural funding? If not, is the delay justified?
Terms and Conditions
Principal investigators are expected to submit a grant application to extramural funding agencies in the first year.
Projects recommended for funding must be initiated by the PI in the USDA NIFA Reporting System (NRS) and approved by USDA before funding will be released. Projects remain active in NRS until the final manuscript is published or for 5 years, whichever comes first.
Required annual Progress Reports and a Final Report submitted by the PI in NRS.
State funded portions of PI salaries are used as cost share on the overall award.