Grant News – Feline Health Research Fund

2024 research grant applications open today

June 30, 2024

If you are looking for a partner to fund your cat health related research, we may be what you need.

The Feline Health Research Fund makes grants of up to $10,000 from it’s pool of donations from cat lovers, professionals and the industry to fund quality Australian research into issues affecting the health, wellbeing and longevity of domestic cats.

We are encouraging applications from a range of disciplines into a wide range of health issues for domestic cats.

For more information, please go to the Applying for a Grant page on our website. From there you can download the Small Grants Application Form, read the Grant FAQs and check out details of previously funded projects.

The window for this grant round opens on the Monday 1 July and closes at 5pm on Friday 2 August at 5pm.

If you have questions after reading the website information, please email the Secretary, Feline Health Research Fund.

2024 research grant applications open today Read More »

Research points to better cat pain relief

June 11, 2024

In our latest funding round, we are supporting research at the University of Sydney, exploring new ways to treat arthritis-related chronic pain in cats by studying their cannabinoid receptors. This research project is tackling a major issue in feline health: the lack of safe and effective treatments for arthritis pain.

Arthritis affects a lot of older cats—about 92% show signs of degenerative joint disease. Current treatments like non-steroidal anti inflamatories and nerve growth factor inhibitors give limited relief and can be expensive or come with safety concerns. This makes finding new solutions more urgent than ever.

Cannabidiol (one of the non-psychoactive elements of cannabis) has been used to treat dogs for some time but its use to treat cats is in early stages.

Our research focuses on using genomic data to better understand and target cannabinoid receptors (CNR1 and CNR2), which play key roles in managing pain and inflammation. By studying the genetic variants of these receptors in cats, there is the potential to develop better treatments for arthritis-related pain.

Thank you for your encouragement and support. There is the potential to make a real difference in the lives of cats suffering from arthrititic pain as this research flows through to vetinary practice.

You might also be interested in our post Osteoarthritis – is your cat suffering in silence?

You can support this and other ongoing research into cat health issues by visting our donations page.

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Feline health grants for 2023 are now open

August 8, 2023

This is our Secretary’s cat Lily to let you know that applications for this year’s Feline Health Research Fund grants are now open.

The Feline Health Research Fund each year calls for relevant research proposals from scientists, veterinarians and post-graduate students from Australian universities and research institutes.

Thanks to the work of these scientists, vets and post-graduate students our domestic cats, like Lily, will live longer and healthier lives.

Find out more about the grants by visiting the FHRF Grants Page.

This round closes on Friday 1 September 2023.

Grants are solely funded by donations and bequests from individual cat lovers and organisations devoted to cat welfare. Find out how you can support this work by visiting the Support Feline Health Page.

Please feel free to forward this information to colleagues and associates with an interest in feline health research.

Happy International Cat Day!

Feline health grants for 2023 are now open Read More »

2023 Grant Round

August 5, 2023

If you are looking for a partner to fund your research into cat health, we may be what you need.

We are encouraging applications from a range of disciplines into a wide range of health issues for domestic cats.

For more information please go to the Applying for a Grant page on our website. There you can download the Small Grants Application Form, read the Grant FAQs and check out details of previously funded projects.

The window for this grant round opens on the Monday 7 August and closes at 5pm on Friday 1 September 2023.

If you have questions after reading the website information, please email the Secretary, Feline Health Research Fund.

2023 Grant Round Read More »

Feline health grants for 2022

September 13, 2022

The August 2022 round of Feline Health Research Fund Grant applications is now closed.

There was a record number of applications including studies of toxoplasmosis, kidney disease and cat behaviour from a variety of Australian Universities.

‘It is pleasing to see such a lot of quality feline health research being undertaken in Australia,’ said Fund Secretary Helen Radoslovich.

‘Of course it means lots of extra work for the Fund’s Trustees and our evaluators but it is work we are happy to undertake.

‘A final decision will take several months but we anticipate being able to advise applicants of the outcome by early 2023.

‘Grants are made possible by donations from cat lovers across Australia. If you are able to support us, even in a small way, please visit our donations page’, she said.

The Fund supports relevant research from scientists, veterinarians and post-graduate students from Australian universities and research institutes.

Here is a list of a list of previously funded projects but applicants were asked to consider research projects relating to improved or preventative health care for cats such as:

arthritis
asthma
behavioural problems
breast cancer
diabetes
eye problems
feline infectious peritonitis
fertility

HCM
hyperthyroidism
immunisation protocols.
kidney, heart and liver failure
lymphosarcoma
pyometra
tooth and gum disease
skin conditions

Cross-species genome research

Recent advances in genome science has demonstrated significant genetic similarity between species. Funds may be allocated to researchers who are engaged in investigating diseases of humans or other animal species that are relevant to cats.

Feline health grants for 2022 Read More »