As the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) opens the research grant process for its Norman Hayward Fund, Chairman Tiffany Hemming, BVMS, MSc, PhD, MBA, Dipl. ACVPM, CertWEL, MIHM, MRCVS, RAVC, asks potential applicants to think about putting research into practice when submitting proposals to the fund.

The Norman Hayward Fund is restricted to research into the disease and welfare of sheep, cattle, and horses. In the last six years more than £1 million has been awarded to veterinary research projects in the United Kingdom. Recent awards ranged in value from £42,000 to £159,000 for projects lasting from one to four years.

“AWF is keen to support research that we can see will make a practical difference to animal welfare in a relatively short time period," Hemming said. "We also pay particular attention to applicants’ communication plans. We want to be clear how the key messages from our research will be disseminated to the target audience—this is critical to achieving practical improvements in animal welfare.”

Applications are welcome from academic and practice-based researchers