Grant
guidelines &
collaboration
How we
support research
The Parsemus Foundation’s mission is to create meaningful improvements in human and animal health and welfare by advancing innovative and neglected medical research. To make the most use of limited resources, the Parsemus Foundation works by funding key proof-of-concept studies and then publicizing them so that advances change treatment practice rather than disappearing into the scientific literature. Many of the studies supported by Parsemus involve low-cost approaches that are not under patent. Parsemus also leverages funding from larger foundations for the next stages of research and development of key projects.
Please direct inquiries to Linda Brent, PhD by sending a message through our Contact page or by emailing info@parsemus.org.
Seeking
collaborators
The Parsemus Foundation has worked with researchers and scientists from across the world on research topics of interest. Grants usually support specific proof-of-concept studies and open-access publication. Parsemus does not accept unsolicited grant applications, but is happy to hear from individuals working on projects of interest to discuss collaboration or funding for new work. We are currently interested in the following:
- Canine hormone restoration therapy — seeking veterinary researchers interested in studying the safety and efficacy of replacing or normalizing hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone, luteinizing hormone) in dogs who underwent spay and neuter.
- Canine lipoma or benign mammary tumor removal — interested in learning more from physicians and veterinarians who have experience using nonsurgical methods to remove or reduce the bulk of lipomas and mammary tumors.
Please direct inquiries to Linda Brent, PhD by sending a message through our Contact page or by emailing info@parsemusfoundation.org.
Dr. Carolyn Bramante of the University of Minnesota is the principal investigator for the COVID-Out clinical trial that evaluated repurposed medications to treat COVID-19. The Paremus Foundation worked closely with Dr. Bramante, provided grant funding, and supported enrollment efforts.
Grant guidelines
Publications
Publication of foundation-supported research is critical to ensuring that the results receive broad distribution, regardless of outcome. Scientific studies funded by the Parsemus Foundation must be published and freely available in an open-access-compliant journal, whether results are positive or negative. Parsemus supports additional costs that may be incurred to ensure open access.
Goats in a contraception study survey their farm-like housing, with room to roam and graze.
Indirect costs
Parsemus Foundation’s maximum indirect cost reimbursement rate is 25% for organizations in low-income countries outside the United States, 20% for organizations in middle-income countries outside the United States, and 15% for organizations within the United States, Northern Europe, Canada, or Japan– with a cap of $20,000 per project. The foundation does not pay indirect costs on unrestricted awards and prizes (such as publication awards).
Animal Welfare
The Parsemus Foundation only supports research meeting high levels of animal care consistent with our work to improve animal welfare. Funded projects meet the European standards for animal care, which are much more stringent (and, we believe, humane) than the current US standards. Protocols should be consistent with the advancements promoted by the (U.K.) Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research, including that a minimum number of animals is used, no euthanasia at the end of the study except under special circumstances, and the study is a demonstrable step towards improving human and/or animal welfare. We have followed these principles in all sponsored studies and have supported better housing and care for traditional and non-traditional laboratory animals, including negotiating improved conditions for rabbits and providing farm-like housing for goats. Animals are adopted out at the conclusion of the study whenever possible.
Animal welfare standards
Grantees seeking foundation support can make use of the following documents to explore whether they will be able to meet the conditions.
- European standards. All foundation-funded projects are required to meet or exceed these standards, or, in field-based rather than laboratory-based research, to improve the lives of the animals studied consistent with the spirit of these standards.
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research. All foundation-funded projects are required to take the NC3Rs recommendations into account.
- NC3Rs leaflet with overview of NC3Rs projects and services.
- Animal Welfare Institute: Making Lives Easier for Animals.
Primates
- NC3Rs Primate Guidelines.
- Reinhardt: Taking Better Care of Monkeys and Apes
- Refinements in husbandry, care and common procedures for non-human primates: Ninth report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement.
Rabbits
- Refining rabbit care: A resource for those working with rabbits in research (RSPCA and UFAW, 2008).
- Supplementary resources regarding rabbit care and housing:
National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research – rabbit page.
Dogs
- Animal Welfare Institute Comfortable Quarters for Dogs in Research Institutions.
- RSPCA Dogs: Good Practice for Housing and Care (2011).
Environmental enrichment
- Enrichment safety tips: Learning from others’ experience
