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WINN ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS FOR ELEVEN FELINE HEALTH STUDIES

Apr 16, 2018

Winn Feline Foundation

Vicki Thayer, DVM, DABVP (Feline)
Executive Director
888-963-6946, extension 702
Media Info

Steve Dale, CABC
Media Contact and Winn Board Member
773-895-8696
Media Info

For Immediate Release

Wyckoff, NJ, April 16, 2018: Winn Feline Foundation is pleased to announce the award of eleven feline medical research grants totaling $230,264 funded through the generous support of private and corporate donations from around the world. 

Winn Acting Board President Glenn Olah, DVM, PhD, DABVP (Feline) stated, "Following a very thorough and rigorous review of 44 competitive proposals and our special Shelter Medicine review which funded three studies for $73,807, Winn also awarded $230,264 for a final total amount of $304,071 in grants for a diverse group of health studies. The grants include infectious disease research related to FIP, FeLV, and toxoplasmosis. In addition, Winn awarded grants investigating new therapies for lung and oral cancers affecting cats, identifying a new pain pathway for arthritis and a new biomarker for HCM, determining cat feeding behaviors that manage weight and obesity, further evaluating genetic differences of amyloidosis in cat breeds, and, finally, measuring a total cat count in communities. Winn's Grant Review Committee continues to be impressed by the quality of the science proposed and the number of submissions advancing feline health."

Winn's Ricky Fund is devoted to the funding of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and related heart disease research. Special recognition is due again this year to the sponsor, Ms. Holly Aglialoro, of this year's Ricky Fund study in memory of her cat, Augustus. Wisdom Health™ is recognized for sponsoring a New Feline Investigator Award in the area of feline genomics.

Grants were awarded for the following research studies:
BRIA FUND STUDY AND NEW FELINE INVESTIGATOR AWARD
 
Understanding genetic differences in immunity to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). (W18-010)
Principal Investigator: Drs. Emi Barker and Christopher Helps; Langford Vets, University of Bristol, UK; $6,400
 
NEW FELINE INVESTIGATOR AWARD - GENOMICS   
(SPONSORED BY WISDOM HEALTH)
 
Predicting susceptibility to FeLV infection in cats. (W18-013)
Principal Investigator: Elliott Chiu, candidate DVM, PhD; Colorado State University; $15,000
 
LUNG CANCER FUND STUDY
 
Evaluating a new drug therapy for lung cancer in cats. (W18-021)
Principal Investigators: Drs. Alycen Lundberg and Timothy Fan; University of Illinois; $24,998
 
RICKY FUND STUDY 
(SPONSORED BY HOLLY AGLIALORO IN MEMORY OF AUGUSTUS)
 
Identifying a new biomarker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. (W18-031)
Principal Investigators: Drs. Jonathan Stack and Ryan Fries; University of Illinois;$21,900
 
GENERAL FUND STUDIES
 
Using new approaches to modulate feline leukemia virus infection. (W18-014)
Principal Investigator: Drs. Cheryl Swenson and Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, Michigan State University;$24,974.
 
Understanding how toxoplasmosis develops in cats could lead to new therapies or prevention. (W18-015)
Principal Investigator: Drs. David Arranz Solis and Jeroen Saeij; 
University of California-Davis; $17,500.
 
Examining the effectiveness of a low-cost treatment for oral cancer in cats. (W18-019)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Nolan; North Carolina State University;  $23,060.
 
Investigating a new pain pathway associated with osteoarthritis in cats. (W18-028)
Principal Investigators: Drs. Santosh Mishra and Duncan Lascelles; 
North Carolina State University; $23,560.
  
Determining feeding behavior in cats to manage weight and obesity. (W18-039)
Principal Investigators: Drs. Andronie Verbrugghe and Anna-Kate Shoveller; Ontario Veterinary College, Canada; $24,002.
 
Evaluating the genetic differences of amyloidosis in Siamese/ Oriental and Abyssinian/Somali cats. (W18-040)
Principal Investigators: Drs. Maria Longeri and Leslie Lyons; University of Milan and University of Missouri; $23,870.
 
Measuring total cat count in communities. (W18-046)
Principal Investigator: Dr.Tyler Flockhart; University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Sciences; $25,000
 
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Individual donors, clubs, organizations or companies may sponsor specific projects. When you sponsor a project, your name will be added to the list of the project's supporters on our website and in any publications we produce about the project. You will receive exclusive pre-publication reports on the progress of your chosen project as they become available, and a final report at its conclusion. A minimum donation of $250 is required for project sponsorship.
 
Sponsorship is easy! Simply pick one of the projects below seeking sponsors ($250 minimum donation). Go to our website for more information on the project and to make your sponsorship donation online or download a donation form to mail to: 
637 Wyckoff Ave., Suite 336, Wyckoff NJ 07481.
 
W18-010: Understanding genetic differences in immunity to FIP

W18-019: Examining the effectiveness of a low-cost treatment for oral cancer

W18-028: Investigating a new pain pathway associated with arthritis

About Winn Feline Foundation
Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, Winn Feline Foundation has funded over 
$6.4 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions world-wide. For further information, go to www.winnfelinefoundation.org.

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