Integrative Veterinarians Australia Annual Research Bursary
2024 Applications have closed. 2025 Applications will open in August 2025.
Each year, the Integrated Veterinarians Australia (IVA) special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association offers a bursary of $1000 as a reward and incentive for projects, research and science-based communications related to integrative medicine.
The objective of this bursary is to financially support preparation of material that informs veterinarians in the broader veterinary community about the use, efficacy and validity of complementary therapies, that contributes to the scientific knowledge underpinning our understanding of integrative therapies and/or contributes to the formal recognition of integrative modalities.
Our 2023 recipient, was Marissa Wood, for her research into copper oxide wire particle use in Australian Goats. The 2022 recipient was Dr Renee James, presenting an overview of advances in integrative veterinary oncology for companion pets. The 2021 recipient was Dr Caroline Hoetzer, for a literature review of the efficacy of selected commonly used nutraceuticals in the management of anxiety in dogs and cats. Previous recipients were Dr Susan Peden (2020) for her original research work on an acupuncture-oxytocin connection in horses (presented as a face-to-face lecture at the May 2022 AVA Conference) and Dr Renee O’Duhring (2019) for research into clinical application and benefits of serologic vaccine titre testing for dogs and cats (presented as a webinar in 2020).
The successful applicant will deliver one of the following outcomes:
- Research and then a poster for the folllowing year AVA conference.
- Research and then a one hour webinar (longer if you wish!).
- Any other project that meets the objectives of the bursary - we encourage innovation!
Interested? Please read on!
Applicants are not required to be members of IVA or AVA.
Veterinary practitioners using integrative therapies, researchers and students from all Australian universities in any year of their veterinary studies are all eligible to apply for the bursary.
Applications will be assessed by 'the panel' formed by the IVA executive on the basis of information provided by the applicant including:
- Aim of research / project and presentation
- Methods of acquiring information/data etc.
- Summary of outcomes expected
- Practical application of methods discussed in the presentation
Applications must address complementary therapy and support the Position Statement of IVA.
Scope includes but is not limited to practical application of therapies in practice, research, ecology, case studies and treatment protocols and education.
A presentation as media, poster or paper or webinar would be approximately 2000 words or 10 minutes duration and could:
- Relate to experiences or studies undertaken
- Present interesting and important information relevant to Integrative medicine
It is a condition of awarding the bursary that the outcomes of the bursary can be used without fee within the AVA/IVA to promote, educate or advance the interests of AVA and IVA:
- May be presented as a Poster or media presentation at an AVA or IVA Conference, IVA stream lecture or published in proceedings, Vet Voice or other format such as webinars.
- May be printed in the IVA newsletter, AVA/ IVA website and may be considered for other AVA publications.
- 2025 applications will open in August 2025.
- Applications will be assessed by the IVA Executive Committee members and the successful application will be notified.
- Outcomes will be advised to each applicant by the IVA Executive Officer as soon as practicable
Your application should be in writing (electronic) to the IVA Executive and outline:
- Aim of your research / project or presentation
- Methods of acquiring information/data etc.
- Current status of your research
- Practical application of your research
- Must address complementary therapy and support the Position Statement of IVA.
- Scope includes, but is not limited to, clinical application, novel research, literature review, your own case studies and treatment protocols, education, ecology.
If you would like to discuss your concept or research project, or need further information or assistance with making your application, please contact IVA Executive Officer, Kimberley Moore.
