When submitting your application, please have the following documents ready to upload:

1. Resume/CV. We require a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) for the applicant and any other person(s) directly involved in the implementation of this refinement.
2. Letter(s) of support. The letter(s) should indicate support from the appropriate authority within the institution/facility for the implementation of the proposed refinement. For example, depending on your institution/facility, this may be the facility manager, the investigator whose animals will be impacted, or the facility veterinarian.
3. Quotes/invoices for costs in budget request (where applicable). 
4. A file containing figures (if applicable). Please make sure that each figure has an appropriate description.

Please note: If your proposal requires IACUC or ACC approval (in the United States or Canada, respectively), you will need to provide the title and protocol number soon after notification of selection of your proposal. Only selected proposals will need to submit proof of IACUC or ACC approval.

If you have any questions about this grant program or the application, please email implementationgrant@awionline.org. 

Thank you for providing your contact information to AWI.

For all remaining questions, please do your best to omit any identifying information (e.g., institution, program, or researcher name). You may refer to an institution/program/researcher in general terms.

Your proposal will be scored by third-party, independent reviewers. To ensure an unbiased review, all identifying information will be removed from your application before sending it for review. By omitting identifying information throughout the rest of the application, you help us protect your anonymity during the review process.

(Identifying information can remain in uploaded CVs/resumes, letters of support, and invoices/quotes. The CVs/resumes are used for AWI's purposes and are not sent to reviewers. Identifying information will be removed from letters of support and invoices/quotes by AWI before sending on to the reviewers.)

Requests for basic husbandry or medical care equipment/training that should be provided de facto by the institution are not eligible for funding.

Your short summary should concisely state what refinement you wish to implement and why, and how this refinement will benefit animals used in research.

Depending on the complexity of the proposed refinement and/or your existing expertise using such equipment, AWI may choose initially to fund the purchase of a smaller amount of equipment for you to pilot/trial before funding the rest. If needed, you will be allowed to modify the details of this proposal after piloting/trialing the equipment.

Describe in detail the refinement you wish to implement, making sure to include the following information:

• Explain why this particular refinement is important, and how it will improve the welfare of animals used in research.
• State the approximate number of animals and the species this refinement will benefit. 
• Clearly describe the steps you will take to implement this refinement successfully.

If your proposal requires figures, please attach them at the end of this application. 

For the purposes of this proposal, the term “invasive research” is used to describe anything done to the animal beyond observing or holding them. Your proposal will not be disqualified if it involves an invasive procedure or risk of harm; however, it will receive additional scrutiny. If you have questions about the invasiveness of your procedures with respect to this proposal, please contact implementationgrant@awionline.org 

We kindly ask that you request the minimum amount required to successfully conduct your work, so that AWI can fund as many projects as possible.

AWI offers grants of up to US$8,000.

Salaries or stipends are eligible for funding.

As a policy, AWI will not fund the following:

• Projects that inflict avoidable stress
• Projects that require killing animals as part of the methodology or outcome measures
• The purchase of animals
• Indirect/overhead costs
• Costs to disseminate results (e.g., conference expenses, publication fees)

AWI also reserves the right not to fund expenses it deems unneccessary or superfluous.

If funds other than those requested here are being used, please describe their source and the additional amount.