The Stanton Foundation Canine Spectrum of Care Clinical Trials Grant

The Stanton Foundation Canine Spectrum of Care Clinical Trials Grant is administered through a partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) and The Stanton Foundation, whose mission in the area of canine health is to ensure that dogs from families of modest economic means have access to high-quality veterinary care. The Foundation prioritizes expanding the evidence base for cost-effective veterinary practices, particularly those that address conditions commonly encountered in general veterinary practice. This grant opportunity supports clinical research trials that aim to test protocols that are financially sustainable for private veterinary practitioners while remaining accessible to clients with limited resources. The grant targets innovations in canine diagnostic and treatment protocols that can be immediately adopted by primary care veterinarians. It is designed to support research yielding real-world applicability and to encourage the development of alternatives to “gold standard” treatments which may be financially out of reach for many pet owners. The funder is particularly focused on ensuring that care can be delivered without requiring subsidies or discounts that might undermine clinic sustainability. This initiative also has an educational component, aiming to broaden experiential learning for early-career veterinarians. The funding opportunity offers a single award of up to $150,000 for a project with a time horizon not exceeding 24 months. Eligible applicants include individual practicing veterinarians or teams thereof. The research must be canine-centric, addressing diseases or conditions prevalent in general practice, and the proposed lower-cost protocol must be demonstrably cost-effective while still enabling the veterinarian to generate positive net revenue. Projects proposing experimental or developmental products still in progress will not be considered. The application process involves a two-step submission, beginning with a required pre-proposal due by December 1, 2025. This 3–4 page document must detail the protocol to be tested, the existing “best option” and its associated costs, the proposed lower-cost alternative, and a basic experimental design. It must also include cost comparison data, two letters of support from primary care veterinarians, and a brief CV. Applicants invited to proceed must submit a full proposal by March 1, 2026. Final decisions will be made by April 1, 2026. Applications open on October 1, 2025. While no matching funds are required, the proposal must demonstrate financial sustainability in a real-world clinic setting. All application materials must be submitted electronically through the designated AVMF platform, which supports draft saving, document uploads in PDF format, and printable summaries. Receipt of submission will be acknowledged via confirmation email to the principal investigator. For questions regarding the grant, applicants may contact Gabby Uresti, Assistant Director of Programs and Operations at the AVMF, via email at guresti@avma.org or by phone at 1-847-285-6709. The grant is expected to recur annually, with future cycles likely following a similar timeline to the current one.

Proposals must emphasize affordability and revenue-positive sustainability. Avoid undeveloped or non-practical options.