Ursula M. Händel Prize
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) announces the Ursula M. Händel Animal Welfare Prize for the eleventh time. The aim of the prize is to honour researchers for their outstanding contributions to promoting animal welfare in science and research. It recognises scientific research that contributes to reducing the burden on animals used in experiments, reducing the number of animals used or else replacing them (3Rs concept: Refinement, Reduction, Replacement).
The prize is endowed with up to €80,000 and is intended to support projects that benefit animal welfare in research. In addition to funding research projects, the prize money can also be used for complementary measures, e.g. the training and professional development of researchers working with animals in science or for scientific events to promote animal welfare in research.
The prize is awarded at the recommendation of an independent jury. Evaluation criteria include the originality and quality of the research, its significance in terms of the 3Rs concept, its application potential and the usability of the outcomes for animal welfare in research, as well as the applicants' previous academic achievements and their potential, especially with regard to demonstrated commitment to animal welfare. The DFG reserves the right to split the prize among several prizewinners. There is no legal entitlement. The award ceremony will take place during a celebratory event in the summer of 2026.
Please submit your application to the DFG by 5 October 2025. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. You will find the online form via Proposal Submission – Nominations – Ursula M. Händel Animal Welfare Prize. The elan portal will open for submission on 8 September 2025.
If this is the first application to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your application. Registration must be completed by 26 September 2025. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.
