Morris Animal Foundation funds six new feline health studies

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Dec 22, 2022, 16:30 ET

DENVER, Dec. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morris Animal Foundation announced it is funding six new studies focused on feline health issues, including cancer and feline infectious peritonitis.

"Cats are an important part of so many people's lives," said Dr. Kathy Tietje, Vice President of Scientific Operations at Morris Animal Foundation. "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."

The projects are slated to begin in 2023. Grant recipients and their topics are:

Dr. Anne Avery, Colorado State University - Investigating the origin and pathogenesis of feline intestinal lymphoma
Dr. Susannah Sample, University of Wisconsin-Madison - Genetic foundation of tooth resorption in cats
Dr. Maciej Parys, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening to identify novel therapeutic targets of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma
Dr. Gillian McLellan, University of Wisconsin-Madison - Delineating age-related neuropathology and correlations with behavioral abnormalities in feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Dr. Terza Brostoff, University of California, Davis - Foundational steps toward a novel feline infectious peritonitis mRNA vaccine
Dr. Shirley Chu, University of Missouri - Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating tolerability, efficacy and immune modulation with spatially fractionated lattice stereotactic radiation therapy in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Nearly 60 million pet cats reside in the United States, along with millions of free-roaming community cats. But funding for studies focused on feline health issues lags behind financial support of canine health-oriented projects. Morris Animal Foundation is helping close this gap through nearly 75 years of supporting cat health studies.

About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation's mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $149 million in nearly 3,000 critical studies across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

SOURCE Morris Animal Foundation (MAF)