$25 million prize offered for single-dose nonsurgical sterilization

CHICAGO — A millionaire spinal surgeon with an affinity for animals hopes to step up research on finding a viable nonsurgical method of sterilization for cats and dogs by offering $75 million in incentives through his foundation and another group.

The $25 million Michelson Prize in Reproductive Biology, named for Dr. Gary K. Michelson, was announced at the SPAY/USA Conference in Chicago Oct. 16. The offering is a joint effort by Michelson's Found Animals Foundation (FAF) and the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D).

The winner of the $25 million prize must create a single-dose, nonsurgical sterilant that is effective in both male and female cats and dogs.

The method must be suitable for administration in any field setting, either orally or by injection, and have a clear pathway to regulatory approval with reasonable manufacturing costs, according to FAF.

Also being offered is up to $50 million in Michelson Grants in Reproductive Biology.

Proposed research is not required to meet all of the prize criteria, but preference will be given to proposals that could result in the creation of a prize-winning product of technology, FAF says.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent with an approach for developing a single-dose sterilant, a method for meeting their goal and a complete overview of the required research, not including budget estimates.

Proposals no longer than two pages in length can be sent to MichelsonPrize@FoundAnimals.org.

Proposal review is expected to begin next month.