Morris Animal Foundation Is Funding Six New Studies On Feline Health

Published on Dec 30, 2022 12:00 AM
Morris Animal Foundation Is Funding Six New Studies On Feline Health

The Morris Animal Foundation announced on December 22, 2022, that it would fund six new feline health studies in different areas.

Tooth resorption, intestinal lymphoma, cognitive dysfunction syndrome, feline infectious peritonitis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma are the topics of the newly funded feline health studies.

The Morris Animal Foundation has provided funding to veterinary researchers at different institutions, including Colorado State University (CSU), the University of Edinburgh, and others. The projects are set to begin in 2023 and will primarily focus on feline health issues.

Dr. Kathy Tietje, vice president of Scientific Operations at Morris Animal Foundation, believes cats are important pets for many people.

"Cats are an important part of so many people's lives," said Dr. Kathy Tietje.

She believes it is essential to look into cat health. In addition, these innovative studies should be funded for the greater good.

"Investment in research advancing their health and well-being continues to be a priority for the Foundation. We're proud to contribute to the science of feline health everywhere by providing financial support for these innovative studies," she continued.

The following are the Morris Animal Foundation grant recipients and their topics:

  • Anne Avery, VMD, PhD, of Colorado State University, will look into the origins and pathogenesis of feline intestinal lymphoma.
  • Susannah Sample, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will look into the genetics of tooth resorption in cats.
  • Maciej Parys, PhD, from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, will investigate genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening to identify novel therapeutic targets of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Gillian McLellan, BVMS, PhD, DACVO, DECVO, DVOphthal, MRCVS, FARVO, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will investigate delineating age-related neuropathology and correlations with behavioral abnormalities in feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
  • Terza Brostoff, DVM, PhD, of the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), will investigate the first steps toward developing a novel feline infectious peritonitis mRNA vaccine.
  • Shirley Chu, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, of the University of Missouri, will begin Phase 1/2 clinical trial to assess the tolerability, efficacy, and immune modulation with spatially fractionated lattice stereotactic radiation therapy in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.

In the United States, there are nearly 60 million pet cats and millions of free-roaming community cats. However, funding for feline health studies lags behind funding for canine health-related projects. Morris Animal Foundation, which has supported cat health research for nearly 75 years, is assisting in closing this gap.

Visit Morris Animal Foundation's website for more information: https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/morris-animal-foundation-funds-six-new-feline -health-studies