The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation is a charity established in Hong Kong in 2020 to encourage and fund scientific research into issues impacting the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred racehorse. The Foundation has committed HK$18.7 million to support 19 projects since its establishment.

The Foundation calls for research applications once a year over December and January.  All applications are subject to a thorough assessment process that is overseen by a Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC), which reports to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The key tasks of the VAC are to identify suitable specialists to undertake peer review of applications, to analyse the advice received and to recommend a short list of projects to the Board for funding. In addition to managing the review process, the VAC advises the Board on scientific matters relevant to the Foundation’s activities and recommends topics that should be considered as priority for funding in each round.

Most of the VAC’s work is conducted online although an in-person meeting will be held in Hong Kong in June/July every two to three years.

The VAC is undergoing expansion from six to eight members in order to broaden its academic knowledgebase and to ensure that the workload remains reasonable for each member. Consequently, the Foundation is now looking for two experienced clinical scientists/scientists to join the VAC. Ideally candidates will have a distinguished background in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic clinical science, qualitative research methods or computational biology although expertise in other relevant fields will also be considered. Appointments will be made for a term of three years, with option for renewal for one further term.

You are welcome to contact Dr Chris Riggs, Director of the HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation, by email to grants@hkjcequinewelfare.org.hk for additional details and to discuss the VAC and its roles. Closing date for applications is 10th November 2023 (Friday).