Call for Proposals Doc Lombard Student Research Award
The International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association (ISDVMA) is pleased to announce a call for research proposals from students of veterinary medicine with an interest in research on the health and well-being of racing sled dogs. The ISDVMA is an organization whose membership is composed of veterinarians and non-veterinarians with an interest in the health and well-being of these canine athletes. The Doc Lombard Student Research Award is named after “Doc” Lombard who was a long time charter member of the ISDVMA. Doc Lombard was a dedicated professional with a love for the sport of sled dog racing who made significant contributions to the practices and principles of sled dog health and medicine. These practices have been upheld by past and current members of the ISDVMA.
Eligibility: Any student currently enrolled in a college or university anywhere in the world that grants professional veterinary degrees (i.e., DVM, VMD, etc.) are eligible to apply. No previous experience with sled dog medicine or sled dog racing is necessary. Students are encouraged to identify a faculty advisor or mentor who can assist them with development of a testable hypothesis, specific aims, justification, experimental design, and budget, with the ultimate going being for publication in a peer-reviewed, scientific journal.
Topics: Research proposals should address topical issues that pertain to the health and well-being of racing sled dogs. Studies can be prospective or retrospective in nature, but preference will be given to projects that can answer applied questions or concerns of long distance, mid-distance, sprint, or working sled dogs. General areas of interests include but are not limited to physiology, pathology, nutrition, infectious disease (zoonotic and non-zoonotic), parasitology, and athletic performance.
Format: Proposals should be limited to three pages or less (excluding references, cover letter, CV), and the format should be double spaced, 1” margins on all sides, and no less than 10 point font. Also accompanying the proposal should be a letter of support and commitment by a faculty advisor (or mentor) stating qualifications and level of commitment of the student to the proposed research. The CV and cover letter from the student should also accompany the application, and should state the goals of their study, how they went about establishing the hypothesis, and how they anticipate completing the study. Proposals should include the following components: title, introduction, hypothesis, specific aims, experimental design (all proposals should be in compliance with institutional animal care and use policies and should be stated as such), budget, and references. The introduction should include a brief summary of published or nonpublished observations and review the literature with justification of the importance of the proposed research. The budget should not exceed $4,000 USD unless independent supplemental funding is available. There is an additional $1000 reserved by ISDVMA,
designated towards travel and lodging for presentation of the research at the next ISDVMA conference. If supplemental funding is available, a letter of commitment from the sponsoring party must accompany the proposal. The budget should be itemized to include travel and lodging, reagents and supplies, fees for service (i.e. histopathology, toxicology, etc.), shipping fees (if pertinent), and administrative support (if pertinent). The awarded winner must prepare a timely summary of the research for the ISDVMA newsletter, and should prepare the data for submission to a peer-reviewed, scientific journal, if possible. As previously mentioned, the winner should prepare a 20 to 30 minute presentation for the next ISDVMA conference.
Selection criteria: Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of veterinarians who are members of the ISDVMA. Preference will be given to proposals that are well written and organized and best meet the format outlined above. Deadline for submission is October 21, 2009.
- Applications or questions concerning submissions should be directed to:
- Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of Veterinary Services
- Pet Poison Helpline
- 8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 875
- Bloomington, MN 55425
- (952) 852-4633
- Email: jlee@safetycall.com.