The mission of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians is to optimize the health, welfare, and conservation of zoo animals and wildlife through education, scientific study, collaboration, and advocacy.
The Zoological Medicine and Wildlife Health Research Grant program, supported by the Wild Animal Health Fund (WAHF) and established by The American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) in 2012, aims to support the AAZV's mission by empowering members to advance the veterinary profession and enhance zoo and wild animal health, welfare, and conservation. The program encourages investigators to share their research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other outreach efforts. It offers two types of funding: standard grants of up to $20,000 and small grants of up to $7,500, the latter being aimed at fostering innovation, training in research, and supporting trainee-led projects, pilot studies, or opportunistic research efforts. Proposals must be scientifically sound and relevant to the AAZV's mission, documenting the investigators' expertise, the study's methodology, feasibility, impact, and relevance to zoo and wild animal health, welfare, and conservation.