Our aim is to de-risk early-stage ideas and build momentum for future support. Think of Revive & Restore as providing seed funding. We want to give the most catalytic and innovative ideas the chance to demonstrate their utility and value within conservation management.
Formal proposals to Revive & Restore are by invitation only.
We support innovative research that leverages emerging or established biotechnologies for wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation, prioritizing projects that directly or indirectly facilitate genetic rescue of at-risk species. Our ultimate goal is ecological restoration.
We fund projects that 1) establish laboratory proofs-of-concept, 2) first-time testing of applications to in situ populations that have been proven in the laboratory, ex-situ, or other relevant contexts (i.e., agricultural environments); and 3) scale up and optimize proven methods for meaningful applications in ex or in-situ populations.
We select teams that contribute to our portfolio’s overall impact, addressing urgent conservation challenges such as:
- Climate change
- Invasive species
- Wildlife disease
- Loss of genetic diversity
Projects may develop technologies that contribute to the Genetic Rescue Toolkit:
- Genomic sequencing and population genetics for informed wildlife management
- Cell culture to enable biobanking, comparative research, and stem cell science
- Reproductive technologies to restore biodiverse populations
- Genetic engineering to build resilience and facilitate adaptation
However, we are always open and excited to explore other biotechnological applications for genetic rescue, especially out-of-the-box ideas!
Each project is expected to develop unique biotechnologies that address an intractable conservation problem. Funded teams demonstrate technical skill, ingenuity, and exceptional collaboration, embodying our vision of transformative biotechnology in conservation.
Partner Expectations
At Revive & Restore, we aim to support and amplify your work every step of the way. As partners, we expect that you:
- Maintain open communication on successes and setbacks
- Consistently hit milestones or pivot strategically when needed
- Provide compelling use cases for genetic rescue in conservation management
Selection Criteria:
We prioritize projects with high potential to make a meaningful impact, particularly where traditional methods fall short. Some of the criteria we’re looking for may include:
Species
- Urgency: Your target species, population, or taxon faces urgent conservation challenges that require new solutions.
- Restoration potential: We want to ensure projects have the best possible chance of success, so we may consider whether restoration is feasible, i.e., is there available habitat, and is there effective management of non-genetic threats?
- Active ex-situ conservation: (e.g., captive breeding populations) is also advantageous, although not necessary.
- Novel Innovations that could lead to applications that fit the above three criteria.
Projects
- Proof-of-Concept: We favor proposals that can demonstrate a successful application of biotechnology for conservation, providing compelling examples of genetic rescue.
- Application: Projects should result in practical tools or resources for wildlife managers or local communities. We do not prioritize academic-only outcomes or general science.
- High Impact: We are looking for high-reward, high-impact results, offering transformative tools for conservation. We don’t require preliminary data.
- Technical Feasibility: While we welcome high-risk ideas, projects must be technically sound, with clear milestones and risk mitigation strategies.
- Duration: We typically fund projects for 1-3 years. We may work with you to condense longer proposed projects.
- Transition programs: We will be on the lookout for transition partners to enable the continuation of your work after the awarded period.
Team
We seek talented, collaborative teams with a proven track record. As active partners in project oversight, we value communication, transparency, and alignment with Revive & Restore’s mission.
