The Patrick J. Manning Research Award honors the memory of Patrick J. Manning, D.V.M., director of Research Animal Resources at the University of Minnesota from 1974 to 1994. The award is to honor a University employee or graduate student who is working with research animals and who has shown special efforts on behalf of research animals and consequently on behalf of science.
In 2026, two personal honoraria of $1,000 each will be awarded. Read about the 2025 awardees.
Eligibility Requirements
The Patrick J. Manning Research Award is open to University of Minnesota employees, postdocs, or graduate students working with research animals.
The following positions are not eligible for these awards: tenured, tenure track, clinical track, and research track faculty; administrators; undergraduate students.
Nomination Guidelines
Submit nominations as a single PDF file using this form. We anticipate making award decisions in April. The nomination deadline is 8 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2026.
Nomination requirements:
- A one-page letter of nomination from the individual’s principal investigator (PI) or supervisor that indicates a description of the nominee’s contributions to improving the use of animals in the research mission of the University
- A one-page letter of support from a UMN employee
- Both letters should be 10 pt font or higher, with one-inch margins
- Nominee’s CV or resume, no longer than two pages
When speaking of the individual’s contributions, please detail the area of focus for the nominee, such as:
- Refinement of research techniques resulting in the need for fewer animals, less invasive procedures, or less stressful methodologies;
- Training efforts directed at improved animal welfare and biomedical research;
- Extraordinary efforts towards the humane treatment of research animals during their care and use; or
- Significant efforts in educating the public and/or key personnel about the essential roles of animals in research.
Please address the following evaluation criteria in the nomination letter:
- Quality of contribution on behalf of research animals
- Consistency of contribution to research animals and on behalf of science
- Successful partnership efforts with Research Animal Resources and PIs
- Role as a team player