FDA is accepting first round of 2027 grant applications to support MUMS animal drugs

The FDA is accepting new fiscal year 2027 applications for grants to support the development and potential approval or conditional approval of new animal drugs intended to treat uncommon diseases (minor uses) in major species (horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, turkeys, and chickens) or to treat minor species.¹ The complete Notice of Funding Opportunity is available at PAR-24-216: Minor Use Minor Species Development of Drugs (R01) (nih.gov).²

The maximum individual award amount is $250,000 per year per awardee, for a period of up to 2 years for routine safety, effectiveness, and some manufacturing studies ($500,000 total), or up to 3 years for toxicology studies ($750,000 total). Grant amount and availability are dependent on available funding. Only animal drug sponsors with designated minor use and minor species (MUMS) animal drugs or their research partners are eligible to apply. Applicants must also meet other eligibility requirements³ as outlined by the FDA.¹

The Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004 helps provide innovative ways to bring products to market for these small populations and is designed to help veterinary pharmaceutical companies and others overcome the roadblocks they face in providing animal drugs for a limited market, according to the FDA. Before this legislation, veterinary pharmaceutical companies and others would rarely attempt to bring such drugs to market.¹

To date, the MUMS grant program has provided $8.4 million in support of 72 studies that support the FDA’s continuing mission to help ensure that safe and effective animal drugs are available for a wide range of species and conditions. MUMS grants have been awarded to support product development for a variety of indications, including the treatment and control of parasitic and bacterial diseases in various fish species, the treatment of certain cancers in dogs, and uses for horses, pheasants, and goats.¹

For this round of funding, the deadline to submit an optional letter of intent to apply for a grant is June 19, 2026, and applications must be submitted by July 24, 2026, through the National Institutes of Health’s ASSIST system or www.grants.gov.¹

References

1. FDA opens first FY2027 grant funding application period for animal drugs for minor uses and minor species. FDA. May 22, 2026. Accessed May 22, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-opens-first-fy2027-grant-funding-application-period-animal-drugs-minor-uses-and-minor-species
2. Minor use minor species development of drugs (R01). National Institutes of Health. March 31, 2025. Accessed May 22, 2026. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-216.html
3. Minor use/minor species (MUMS) grants. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Accessed May 2, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/media/89240/download?attachment