Call for Proposals: InnoVet-AMR 2.0 in Food-Producing Animals – Ruminants & Aquaculture

Deadline: 30-Oct-23

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is pleased to announce a call for full proposals on Innovative Veterinary Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (InnoVet-AMR) 2.0 in Food-Producing animals: Ruminants and Aquaculture.

Objectives and Intended Outcome

• InnoVet-AMR 2.0 will support scientific research that will target:
  • therapeutic and prophylactic alternatives to antimicrobials for aquaculture (CAN include vaccines)
  • therapeutic and prophylactic alternatives to antimicrobials for ruminants (must NOT include vaccines)
• The ultimate intended outcome of InnoVet-AMR 2.0:
  • To minimise the development of AMR in ruminants and aquaculture — and the threat it poses to human health — through the prudent and reduced use of antimicrobials in LMICs by supporting the development and uptake of innovative veterinary products.

Thematic Focus Areas

• Research proposals should focus on veterinary solutions, where new product-oriented solutions would significantly reduce the therapeutic and/or non-therapeutic use of antimicrobials in LMICs in ruminants and/or aquaculture production. These solutions should target the prevention and control of bacterial infectious diseases of importance in LMICs and the reduction of the use of antimicrobials while considering gender equity and inclusion and demonstrating commitment to climate change mitigation.
  • Ruminants
    • Ruminants are extremely important and frequently consumed in many LMICs. Small-scale production systems have been part of human livelihoods for many years, enhancing diet and nutrition as well as income. Animal diseases have major impacts on food production and food security; AMR increases those risks. The misuse of antimicrobials in agriculture contributes to the spread of AMR and undermines the effectiveness of veterinary and human medicines. Making sure that these treatments remain effective and available to the agricultural and medical sector is critical.
    • The effectiveness of vaccines in preventing diseases has been considerable and could significantly reduce the need and use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture. However, vaccine research is more common in ruminants and, therefore, the focus will be on developing alternatives to antimicrobials for bacterial diseases. The prevention and reduction of disease in ruminants has the potential to improve efficiency of production and reduce animal losses. Additionally, alternatives used as prophylactics and growth promoters might influence ruminants’ gas emissions, which could reduce any negative effect on climate.
  • Aquaculture
    • Aquaculture (fish and shellfish) is a significant industry for many LMICs, particularly in Asia. Moreover, the aquaculture sector has seen tremendous growth in the last 50 years and is an essential source of protein and micronutrients, as well as providing an income for billions of people worldwide. This sector is expected to grow even further to support growing global food demands.
    • The aquaculture sector has unique features that makes it especially prone to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Like in other farm systems, fish and shellfish (e.g., shrimp) are grown in high density to increase productivity while reducing costs. However, water is essential for life and a great vehicle for the transmission of microbes and AMR. These production conditions may favour the development of multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Funding Scope and Duration

• As a result of this call, a series of grants of up to CAD1.6 million will be issued. The project duration will not exceed 32 months, including the time required for project set-up (e.g., set up contracts and hire personnel), research activities and final reporting. The inclusion of project set-up (buffer time) is important because projects will not be extended beyond the 32 months.
• Proposals should demonstrate how gender equality and inclusion will be promoted and adopted using an intersectional approach with respect to both of the following the following:
  • team composition and organizations comprising the research team
  • the design and implementation of the proposed research
• Proposals need to:
  • demonstrate that they have considered the potential environmental impacts of their activities
  • detail potential benefits
  • describe how any potential harmful effects will be mitigated
• Special consideration will be given to products that, in addition to their prophylactic or therapeutic effect, contribute to reducing the use of antimicrobials and the carbon footprint of farm animals.
• InnoVet-AMR will only consider veterinary solutions that address:
  • infectious diseases of importance to LMICs
  • the reduction of use and/or misuse of antimicrobials
• All grants are subject to sufficient funds being made available to IDRC by the Parliament of Canada and the Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), part of UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
• The DHSC contribution’s primary purpose must be for use in LMICs. The Development Assistance Committee list of Official Development Assistance Recipients eligible countries is reviewed periodically and thus subject to change. UK and DHSC policy on countries eligible for UK or DHSC funding is also subject to change.
• IDRC offers a training and support package from third-party experts. It is expected that at least the principal investigators (PIs) involved in the projects participate in these events, particularly for evaluation of projects and program. The support events are organized to help grantees move their products through the product development pipeline.

Eligibility Criteria

• The lead applicant organization is the institution where the principal investigator is based. Lead applicants, along with co-applicant organizations, will assume responsibility for the administration of grant funds.
• Eligible lead applicant organizations will:
  • have a key institutional objective to carry out independent research
  • not be a United Nations organization or a CGIAR centre
  • have a legal status
• Co-applicant organizations propose research to IDRC jointly with the lead applicant organization. These organizations are direct partners in the research and jointly share the intellectual responsibility and ownership for the knowledge and outputs produced with the lead applicant organization. Up to two co-applicants can enter into grant agreements directly with IDRC (i.e., three grant agreements total), although there can be more than two co-applicants.
• Eligible co-Applicant organizations will:
  • have a key institutional objective to carry out independent research
  • not be a United Nations organization
  • have a legal status
• Private sector organisations and civil society institutions are encouraged to apply provided they can demonstrate that they have the capacity to conduct high-quality applied research.
• The following eligibility criteria also apply:
  • This call is purposely encouraging gender-balanced consortia without compromising the expertise needed to accomplish the objectives of each proposal.
  • The proposed veterinary solution must focus on ruminants or aquaculture animals.
  • The research team must include at least one researcher from an institution based in a LMIC as principal investigator or co-applicant.
  • Applicants from academia, private and public sector organisations with strong research focus are eligible for this global call.
  • Applicants from United Nations (UN) systems are not eligible to apply to this call as lead or coapplicant organizations. UN organizations may participate as collaborating organizations.
  • Applicants from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Centres are not eligible as lead organization but are eligible as co-applicants or collaborating organizations.
  • At least one institution from an LMIC country should be involved with a maximum of three institutions per proposal.
  • Only institutions of LMIC origin that are not private or for-profit organizations, excluding private universities (national non-profit research organizations) and small and medium biotech companies, will be considered as part of the consortium.
  • At most, one person can apply as the principal investigator for one project.

For more information, visit IDRC.