The International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association (ISDVMA) is pleased to announce a call for 2024 research
proposals from veterinary students with an interest in research on the health and well-being of racing sled dogs. The
ISDVMA is an organization whose membership is composed of veterinarians and non-veterinarians with an interest in
the health and well-being of canine endurance athletes. The Doc Lombard Student Research Award is named after Dr.
Roland “Doc” Lombard, who was a sled dog veterinarian and World Champion musher that contributed significantly to
the health and welfare of the modern sled dog through his research. Doc Lombard was a dedicated professional with a
love for the sport of sled dog racing and who made significant contributions to the practices and principles of sled dog
health and medicine that has been upheld by past and current members of the ISDVMA.
Submission details below:
Eligibility: Any student currently enrolled in an accredited veterinary school anywhere in the world that grants. professional veterinary degrees are eligible to apply. No previous experience with sled dog medicine or sled dog racing is necessary. This grant should be written and initiated by the student to promote student research with the help and guidance of faculty mentors. Students are encouraged to identify an advisor or mentor who can assist with development of a testable hypothesis, specific aims, justification, experimental design, and budget, with the ultimate goal of generating data suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed, scientific journal. Graduate students enrolled at a veterinary college are eligible.
Topics: Research proposals should address topical issues that pertain to the health and well-being of any class of racing sled dogs. Studies can be prospective or retrospective in nature, but preference will be given to projects that address current issues related to long distance, mid-distance, sprint, or working sled dogs and that can be translated into applied solutions. General areas of interests include but are not limited to physiology, pathology, nutrition, infectious disease (zoonotic and non- zoonotic), parasitology, disease conditions or etiologies affecting sled dogs, and improving athletic performance.
Format: Proposals should be limited to three pages or less (excluding bibliography), and format should be double
spaced, Times New Roman font, and no less than 10 point font. Also accompanying the proposal should be a letter of support and commitment by a faculty advisor or mentor stating qualifications and level of commitment of the student to the proposed research and evidence of supplemental funding if available. In addition, a CV/resume should accompany a cover letter by the student detailing their experience and interest in sled dogs and sled dog medicine, as well as outlining how their proposal was conceived. Proposals should include the following sections: title, introduction, hypothesis, specific aims, experimental design (all proposals should be in compliance with their institutional animal care and use policies and should be stated as such), budget, and bibliography. The introduction should include a brief summary of published or non-published observations and review the literature with justification of the importance of the proposed research. The budget should not exceed $4,000 USD unless independent supplemental funding is available.
Up to an additional $1,000 USD to cover travel costs will be issued after submission of receipts for the award recipient to travel to the biennial international ISDVMA conference to present their research and results (Presentation at the upcoming ISVDMA conference is mandatory with receipt and acceptance of the award). If supplemental funding is available, a letter of commitment from the sponsoring party or faculty mentor should accompany the proposal. The budget should be itemized to included travel and lodging, reagents and supplies, fees for service (e.g., histopathology, toxicology, etc.), publication and administrative support. The award is intended to encourage and fund student driven research, not to employ or pay for students to perform research. To that end, the budget should not include a stipend to pay the student winner to perform the research or do the data analysis, which would require issuance of a 1099 form. The Doc Lombard award is intended and will be awarded to such that the research must be conducted with 18 months of issuance, with no option for extension or carryover. The ISDVMA is a not-for-profit organization and does not pay overhead costs should the awardees institution require that funds be distributed through the universities research administration office.
Selection criteria: Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of veterinarians who are members of the ISDVMA. Preference will be given to proposals that are well written, organized and best meet needs of the sled dog community. Deadline for submission is November 30, 2024. Notification of award will be posted no later than December 30, 2024
Submissions should be submitted electronically to the email addresses below.
No paper copy is necessary.
Submissions should be directed to: ISDVMA@isdvma.org AND DrNick@FirstCoastVetER.com
Past Doc Lombard Award Winners
2016 winning project: “Splanchnic hypo-perfusion proposed as mechanism for mucosal damage and gastrointestinal signs resulting from strenuous exercise in racing Alaskan sled dogs.“
2017 winning project: “Uncovering the genetic basis for a juvenile polyneuropathy in Siberian Husky dogs.“
2018 winning project: “Survey of sled dog health and welfare issues from various stakeholders at an endurance race.“
2019 winning project: “Artemin as an objective clinical biomarker of “race reediness” in sled dogs.“
2020 winning project: “Low baseline alanine aminotransferase and relevance to athletic performance in Alaskan sled dogs.“
2021 winning project: “Genetics of Diet Adaptions in Alaskan Sled Dogs.”
2022 winning project: “The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in sodium and potassium balance in racing sled dogs and its connection to rhabdomyolysis.”
2023 winning project: “The genetics behind class 2 malocclusion in Husky dogs.“
2024 winning project: Stay tuned! To be announced!