Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers (U18)
🏛 Food and Drug Administration (HHS-FDA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations developing innovative approaches to animal health, veterinary medicine, and FDA-regulated products. Eligible applicants include nonprofit research institutions, universities, veterinary schools, animal health organizations, and private sector partners through collaborative arrangements. The program supports centers that conduct research, develop capacity, and provide training in areas affecting animal health and FDA oversight. Projects must align with FDA's regulatory mission and advance innovation in veterinary science, animal product safety, or animal disease prevention. Geographic scope includes all U.S. states and territories, with preference for addressing gaps in veterinary research infrastructure.
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Program description
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications for inclusion as Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers, which are intended to form long-term partnerships to address priority areas for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). This includes CVM developing cooperative agreement(s) with academic research institutions (public and private) to:
1. Drive research that supports the development of interventions to prevent, control, or eliminate Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in animals, or interventions that reduce the circulation of the virus in the ecosystem. Work may also include other emerging zoonotic disease threats or One Health issues in future years.
2. Drive research that supports the development of intentional genomic alternations in animals and the advancement of regulatory science in this field, with a focus on intentional genomic alternations that support agricultural resilience, food security, animal health, or public health.
3. Drive research that supports the development of products for minor species, minor uses in major species (dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys) and other unmet veterinary medical needs in major species that create a significant animal or public health burden.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (research plan and center development strategy)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Biosafety Committee approval or IBC documentation
- Letters of institutional commitment and support
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff qualifications, facilities)
- Timeline and management plan
- Sustainability plan
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Terrin Brown Grantor
- 📧 jenise.mcnair@fda.hhs.gov
- 📞 2404027610
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.103 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$137,050,554
-
$76,105,626
-
$53,144,194
-
$52,672,417
-
$38,251,997
-
$36,000,000
-
$35,391,995
-
$32,562,281
-
$30,732,300
-
$25,132,999
Top States by Funding
- AZ 4 awards $149.9M
- CA 9 awards $114.6M
- MD 7 awards $112.8M
- VA 7 awards $104.5M
- PA 11 awards $86.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.103). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2016 | $170,482,435 | |
| 2017 est. | $208,900,832 | |
| 2018 | $173,077,408 | |
| 2019 | $198,507,896 | |
| 2020 | $212,448,590 | |
| 2021 | $218,918,739 | |
| 2022 est. | $255,910,458 | |
| 2023 est. | $246,894,600 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Universities, veterinary schools, nonprofit research institutions, and animal health organizations can apply. Private companies may participate as partners through collaborative grants.
What activities does this grant fund?
The program supports research centers, training programs, and capacity-building in animal health and veterinary innovation. Centers focus on FDA-relevant topics like animal product safety and disease prevention.
What is the typical funding range?
Federal grants at this level typically provide multi-year support, often ranging from $500,000 to several million dollars annually, though exact amounts vary by program year.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a moderately competitive federal grant. Strong applicants demonstrate institutional commitment, experienced leadership, and clear alignment with FDA priorities.
When is the application due?
The deadline is May 12, 2028. Applications typically must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline date.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish strong partnerships with veterinary schools, research institutions, or animal health organizations to demonstrate broad capacity and impact.
- Align your research focus clearly with FDA priorities, including animal product safety, antimicrobial resistance, or emerging disease threats.
- Document institutional commitment through letters of support, dedicated space, and existing research infrastructure or capacity.
- Develop a realistic budget with strong justification for personnel, equipment, and training activities across multi-year periods.
- Address how your center will achieve sustainability beyond the grant period through fees, partnerships, or diversified funding.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often lack clear institutional commitment or fail to secure strong letters of support from leadership. Projects that don't align explicitly with FDA regulatory mission or national animal health priorities are frequently rejected. Many proposals underestimate the complexity of establishing and managing a functional research center.
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