HABRI 2027: research grants on the health benefits of human-animal interaction, average award about USD 50,000, apply by 18 February 2027

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) has launched its 2027 Annual Request for Proposals, inviting research projects that investigate the health outcomes of pet ownership and human-animal interactions (HAIs). The initiative supports scientific inquiries aimed at understanding the mutual health and wellness benefits for both humans and companion animals.

HABRI does not set a strict budget cap for project submissions, but grants typically average around USD 50,000 for studies spanning approximately 20 months. The institute historically selects and funds 5 to 6 projects per annual funding cycle.

Eligible academic and non-profit institutions worldwide must submit their complete proposals by February 18, 2027, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Applications undergo rigorous multi-stage expert review before funding decisions are made.

What is funded

Funding is directed toward innovative, methodologically sound research examining the positive impacts of companion animals on human health and well-being. HABRI supports generalizable inquiries across key areas such as child health and development, healthy aging, mental health, and physical health, with particular attention to pet ownership.

The program also funds translational research designed to generate actionable guidelines and recommendations for policymakers, healthcare professionals, veterinarians, and prospective pet owners. Priorities include investigating how human-animal bonds mitigate public health challenges, such as trauma, loneliness, addiction, and anxiety, as well as examining veterinary team well-being and access to care.

Who can apply

Applications are open globally to academic institutions, universities, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations. Researchers and organizations based outside the United States, including those in Ukraine, are eligible to submit proposals.

Applicants must demonstrate qualified research capabilities, suitable research facilities, achievable participant recruitment plans, and a sound theoretical framework. Multi-disciplinary teams across human medicine, psychology, animal welfare, and veterinary medicine are suitable for this interdisciplinary call.

Conditions and requirements

All funded research projects must adhere to strict welfare standards for both humans and animals. Formal approvals from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) are mandatory, and all participating animals must remain under the continuous care of a licensed veterinarian.

HABRI explicitly prohibits the funding of invasive procedures on animals, prioritizing studies that also evaluate and safeguard animal welfare. Proposals must provide realistic, cost-effective budgets aligned with the proposed research design.

Practical tip. Prepare a robust, blinded abstract that clearly highlights your study design, statistical power, and public health impact, as proposals first undergo an initial blind review where the identities of the researchers and institutions are fully masked.

How to apply

Proposals must be prepared in strict accordance with the official HABRI 2027 Proposal Guidelines and must include supplementary documents such as the budget form and scoring rubric criteria. Applications failing to adhere to mandatory structural requirements or deadlines will be disqualified without review.

Completed submissions must be sent via email to submissions@habri.org before the February 18, 2027 deadline. Both the email subject line and the attached PDF document must be formatted as ‘HABRI 2027 Grant Proposal – Principal Investigator Last Name’. Applicants will receive an identification tracking code within 48 hours confirming receipt.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: habri.org.