laboratory glassware
The Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology is a $75M program that exists to incentivize research through prize philanthropy and grant funding to rapidly develop a permanent, single-dose, nonsurgical sterilant for male and female cats and dogs.

Grant Agreements

Upon approval of a Michelson Grant proposal, and as a condition of funding, an applicant's institution is required to enter into a grant contract with Found Animals that includes:

  1. Applicant’s agreement to submit quarterly progress reports and a final grant report in accordance with Foundation policies and procedures.
  2. Applicant’s agreement to comply with the Foundation’s Policy for Animals Involved in Research and to host annual scheduled site visits and intermittent (unannounced) animal welfare site visits to verify work performed, facilities, and animal care/use as described in the proposal.
  3. Applicant’s grant to the Foundation of the first option for an exclusive license (with right to sublicense) to make, have made, sell, offer for sale, import, and use product(s) resulting from Michelson Grant-funded research in areas of interest to the Foundation, including pre-negotiation of a royalty rate on inventions resulting from Michelson Grant-funded research and any background intellectual property necessary to the manufacture of such a product, and for a license to background intellectual property rights of the licensor that are required to exercise a license on product(s) resulting from Michelson Grant-funded research.
  4. Applicant’s agreement to negotiate in good faith the terms of the optional license on terms and conditions that reasonably compensate the Applicant if such a product is approved for sale while recognizing the Foundation’s mandate to inexpensively make such products available in certain markets.

The Foundation recognizes the diversity of intellectual property ownership policies among institutions, states, and countries, and therefore will attempt to be flexible in negotiating grant agreements to meet mutual needs. Accordingly, the Foundation welcomes proposals for alternative grant arrangements that enable a commercialized product to reach the target animal population.