Eligibility Criteria

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Introduction
The HBLB applies funds to Equine Veterinary Research Projects on the recommendation of its Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC).

Applications for funds are considered annually and grants are awarded through a competitive, peer-reviewed evaluation process. If the proposed project, the prospective host institution or the Principal Investigator do not meet the eligibility criteria below, the HBLB will not consider the application.

Eligibility - Projects
The HBLB accepts applications for grants for strategic basic and applied or clinical Equine Veterinary Research Projects which aim to improve the health and welfare of horses, particularly the racing, breeding or rearing of theThoroughbred. Applications may be made in any relevant equine veterinary discipline.

The HBLB’s strategic research priorities are aligned with the outcomes of the Horse Welfare Board’s strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing (2020 – 2024):

 Best possible quality of life, which include all aspects of healthcare, husbandry and disease control (eg improved methods of disease diagnosis, more effective vaccines, biosecurity and disease prevention strategies, antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance)

 Best possible safety and well-being during breeding, training and racing (eg enhancement of diagnostic methods and restoration techniques after musculo-skeletal disease and injury, safer training and racing practices, minimisation of fatal and non-fatal injury)

 Lifetime responsibility for equine health (eg optimal health of breeding Thoroughbreds and youngstock, reproductive efficiency, evaluation of factors affecting transition to post-racing careers)

Eligibility - Institutions
Grants are awarded exclusively to institutions in England, Scotland and Wales. Eligible institutions are any of the following:

• University veterinary schools.


• Other University departments.


• Research institutes*.


• Private veterinary practices are not eligible as lead applicants but are encouraged to collaborate with another eligible institute, as listed above.

Applications from other types of institution may be considered.

* subject to evidence of satisfactory financial, management, research and regulation governance criteria.


Eligibility - Principal Investigators
The Principal Investigator (PI) should normally be one of the following.

• A salaried, scientific staff member, whether or not a veterinary surgeon, of an eligible institution in England, Scotland or Wales.


• An individual, whether or not a veterinary surgeon, who works in an eligible institution in England, Scotland or Wales and whose salary will be paid by a source other than the institution or the HBLB for the duration of the research project.

Applications from other individuals may be considered.

Funding
Projects are funded for up to three years. Grants should commence within the calendar year of the award or as approved by the VAC. There are no set maximum or minimum amounts for grants awarded for individual research projects. In evaluating applications, the VAC looks for well-planned, realistic budgets.

For information on the amount of funding, please contact the HBLB Equine Grants Team. Guidance on eligible costs is shown in the table below.

Evaluation of Applications
The HBLB is committed to ensuring that the evaluation process is carried out in a responsible, fair, non-discriminatory and transparent manner. Research project applications are evaluated by VAC members and external peer reviews. The BHA also advises on the relevance of the proposal to the industry. The following key criteria are used in evaluation. The listing does not imply any order of importance. Other criteria also apply.

• Scientific merit, approach and study design.


• Relevance to the horse, particularly the Thoroughbred during racing, breeding and/or rearing.


• Likely impact of the project on the care and management of the Thoroughbred.


• Track and publication record of the Principal Investigator*.


• Other factors, such as feasibility, budget and facilities.

*The HBLB wishes to encourage new or young investigators and the absence of an established record will not count against them.

For further information on the evaluation process, please contact the HBLB Equine Grants Team.

Timetable
Applications will be accepted only before 2pm on Monday 15 July 2024. Funding decisions will not be made before December 2024. Projects should commence from 1 April 2025.

Personal Data
By submitting an eligibility check, you are consenting to the HBLB holding your personal data in its database(s) and processing the data in any way relevant to its interests in veterinary research funding. If you complete and submit a grant application, the HBLB will disclose the data to third parties where such disclosure is necessary to reach a decision on funding the application. If you do not consent to these things, do not proceed with an eligibility check.

HBLB research and education awards: eligible costs

Category	Research Projects	Small Projects	Scholarships	Post doc
Staff costs	Salaries are allowed for scientific and/or technical staff employed specifically to work on the project at 100% of their time or a lesser percentage Annual increments are acceptable at a reasonable level Salaries are NOT allowed for PIs or, normally, HEFCE/SHEFCE funded staff.	NOT allowed for PIs or, normally, HEFCE/SHECE funded staff	The Scholar is awarded a stipend fixed at the time of the award at rates comparable to Wellcome and informed by inflation. NB stipends are tax free and no National Insurance is payable. Scholarship stipends are outside the scope of pension requirements.	The salary is fixed at the time of the award at a gross amount to include employers’ National Insurance and pension contributions. Inflationary increases are included as appropriate. Fellows are responsible for paying their own income tax and National Insurance contributions.
	Where the salaries of technical support staff are not included, costs may be included	Costs can be included for technical staff.	Costs for technical support staff may be included under the expenses allowance.	Costs for technical support staff may be included under the expenses allowance.
	NB the Spinal Point system applies to all staff salaries	NB the Spinal Point system Is used to calculate technicians’ salaries
Overheads	Automatically set at 40% of total staff costs	Not allowed	Not allowed	Permitted at 40% of post doc salary costs
Travel	Allowable for PI, co-applicants and staff for travel related to the project	Allowable for PI, co-applicants and staff for travel related to the project	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
	HBLB tariff applies	HBLB tariff applies	HBLB tariff as guidance	HBLB tariff as guidance
Conference Fees and travel	Allowable for PI, co-applicants and staff to maximum of £2,000 per person	Not allowed	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
Consumables	See items excluded 1	See items excluded 1	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
Equipment	See items allowed 2	See items allowed 2	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
Clinical Facilities and services for research purposes	Diagnostic procedures, Anaesthesia and surgical services etc can be charged at up to 50% of the hospital or clinic’s usual clinical rate. Laboratory sample processing within a Clinical Laboratory can be charged at up to 50% of the hospital or clinic’s usual clinical rate where individual sample processing can be justified. Storage and batch processing at cost is preferred if feasible.	Diagnostic procedures, Anaesthesia and surgical services etc can be charged at up to 50% of the hospital or clinic’s usual clinical rate. Laboratory sample processing within a Clinical Laboratory can be charged at up to 50% of the hospital or clinic’s usual clinical rate where individual sample processing can be justified. Storage and batch processing at cost is preferred if feasible.	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
Animals	See terms 3	See terms 3	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance
Exam/tuition fees	Not allowed	Not allowed	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Not allowed
Publication costs	Up to £ 2,000 to fund open access	Not allowed	Up to £ 2,000 of the ‘expenses’ allowance to fund open access	Up to £ 2,000 of the ‘expenses’ allowance to fund open access
Books	Not allowed	Not allowed	Any costs to be included within the ‘expenses’ allowance	Not allowed

1 excluded: maintenance, running, insurance, other recurrent costs of equipment including computers. Any item of equipment >£1,000 must be specifically justified

Staff recruitment costs, general office costs inc secretarial/clerical unless project demands unusual level of assistance

2 permitted: capital, lease or hire cost of essential equipment provided not already available at host institution or collaborating institution

Access charges to such equipment at host or other institution

3 allowed: cost of breeding and maintaining at institution rate; and purchase cost minus expected sale income (if any)

not allowed: licence fees