Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers (U18)

The Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through its Center for Veterinary Medicine. This program is designed to establish long term collaborative research centers within academic institutions that align with the agency’s Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda. The initiative reflects the FDA’s role in regulating animal drugs and food, and its interest in advancing regulatory science and innovation to address emerging challenges affecting animal and public health. These centers are intended to serve as sustained partners to the agency, contributing research that informs regulatory pathways and supports the development of new veterinary products. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to fund research that addresses priority areas identified by the Center for Veterinary Medicine. These include advancing interventions to prevent or control emerging zoonotic diseases and broader One Health issues, supporting the development and regulatory science of intentional genomic alterations in animals, and addressing unmet veterinary medical needs such as products for minor species or minor uses in major species. The overarching goal is to accelerate the development and approval of innovative animal health products that improve food security, agricultural resilience, and public health outcomes. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning that there will be substantial involvement from FDA staff throughout the life of the project. Awardees will receive funding for an initial one year period with the possibility of continued support for up to four additional years based on performance, funding availability, and appropriations. Annual funding levels increase over the five year project period, with budgets expected to reflect actual project needs within specified caps. The maximum project period is five years, and applicants must propose multi year research strategies aligned with program priorities. Eligible applicants are limited to U.S.-based public and private institutions of higher education. Foreign organizations and non domestic components are not eligible to apply. Applicants must complete required federal registrations, including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, prior to submission. The program director or principal investigator must demonstrate the expertise and resources necessary to lead the proposed research. Institutions may submit multiple applications provided each is scientifically distinct. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and follow the Research Instructions in the application guide, with additional program specific requirements outlined in the notice. Required components include a detailed research plan, budget justifications for each year, and a data management and sharing plan. The research strategy section is limited to 30 pages. While letters of intent are not required for the first cycle, they are requested for subsequent cycles and help the agency plan the review process. Applicants are encouraged to engage with FDA contacts prior to submission to ensure alignment with program priorities. Applications are evaluated through FDA’s peer review process based on criteria including significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and research environment. Additional considerations include the ethical use of animals, biosafety, and resource sharing plans. Funding decisions are based on scientific merit, availability of funds, and alignment with program priorities. Awardees must comply with reporting requirements, including annual progress reports and data sharing obligations, and must coordinate with FDA on publications and dissemination of findings. The application timeline includes multiple annual submission cycles, with deadlines in June 2026, May 2027, and May 2028. Applications are due by 11:59 PM local time on the specified dates. The earliest project start date for the first cycle is September 2026. The program is expected to recur annually through at least 2028, reflecting its role as a long term investment in veterinary innovation infrastructure. Contacts are provided for scientific, review, and grants management inquiries, and applicants are encouraged to seek guidance throughout the process.

Align proposal with CVM priority areas; demonstrate regulatory science impact; provide strong multi-year research strategy; ensure institutional support and collaboration