FDA MUMS Animal Drug Development Grants

FDA MUMS Animal Drug Grants

Funds preclinical and translational studies on FDA-designated animal drug development.

The FDA Minor Use and Minor Species (MUMS) Animal Drug Grants Program, administered by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) under authority of the MUMS Act of 2004, funds sponsors of FDA-Designated MUMS animal drugs to conduct the studies required for full approval. Since the program's inception it has supported 72 studies totalling $8.4 million in awards, covering conditions such as parasitic and bacterial diseases in fish, cancers in dogs, and indications for horses, pheasants, and goats. The program operates under NIH R01 mechanism against Funding Opportunity Announcement PAR-24-216.

Awards are capped at $250,000 per year per awardee. Routine studies can receive funding for up to two years ($500,000 total), while toxicology studies qualify for up to three years ($750,000 total). Eligibility is narrow by design: only sponsors who already hold FDA's formal Designated MUMS status for the specific drug and indication may apply, as may their designated research partners. For-profit companies, non-profits, universities, and research organizations are all eligible; individual applicants are not. Applications are submitted through NIH ASSIST or Grants.gov. The FY2027 first application period was announced on May 22, 2026.

Winning applications hinge on holding the prerequisite Designated MUMS status before submission — applicants without that designation cannot qualify regardless of scientific merit. Because award caps are fixed by statute ($250K/year), the competitive edge lies in the strength of the proposed study design and its direct alignment with the conditions required for FDA approval of the designated drug. Applicants should confirm current deadline details via PAR-24-216 on NIH's website, as MUMS operates on two funding periods per fiscal year.