Call for Research Proposals Related to Honey Bee Health

Call for Research Proposals Related to Honey Bee Health
Email your proposals to Kelly Rourke (kr@pollinator.org) by 
Friday, January 31, 2020.   

Background
The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) is seeking proposals for research related to improving the health of honey bees.  Proposals should focus on research to understand, manage, suppress, and eradicate Varroa mites, small hive beetles, and other pests, pathogens, and diseases contributing to colony losses. Summaries of previously funded projects can be found at http://pollinator.org/honeybee_health.htm. Review and selection of proposals will be conducted by members of the Honey Bee Health Task Force. ​

Research Needs
We anticipate supporting several proposals, for a maximum of $10,000 for each individual proposal.  Students and post-doctoral research fellows are encouraged to apply.  Funds must be used within a one-year period.  Focused, targeted projects with a high likelihood of providing tangible results that can be applied to improving bee health are preferred. 

Priority Areas
The Honey Bee Health Task Force has identified seven priority areas for funding, though other areas will be considered as well

1. Effects of pathogens and pests on honey bee behavior, physiology and/or colony health; including the development of novel methods to mitigate these effects.
2. Effects of nutrition on pest, pathogen, and disease incidence.
3. Effects of pesticides on pest, pathogen, and disease incidence.
4. Effects of parasite and pathogen shared between bee species.
5. Development of approaches for genetic stock improvement of honey bee populations to enhance resistance to pathogens and parasites.
6. Effects of climate or environmental variables on honey bee pests, pathogens, and disease incidence.
7. The development of diagnostics or indicators for the presence of pests, pathogens and diseases that affect honey bee health.

Submission
Email your proposal packets as a single PDF file to Kelly Rourke (kr@pollinator.org) by 3PM PST on Friday, January 31, 2020.   

Funding Decisions
​The proposals will be evaluated by members of the Honey Bee Health Task Force and funding decisions will be made by Monday, March 13, 2020.

More information at http://pollinator.org/honeybee-health. Email kr@pollinator.org with questions. 
Thank you,
NAPPC / Pollinator Partnership