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
888-963-6946, extension 703
Media Info
For Immediate Release
Wyckoff, NJ, March 25, 2014: The Winn Feline Foundation is pleased to announce the award of nine feline medical research grants funded through the generous support of private and corporate donations from around the world. Winn Board President Vicki Thayer, DVM, DABVP (feline) stated, “This year we awarded $173,121.56 in grants for studies on a variety of diseases including gastrointestinal disease associated with E.coli infection in kittens, FIP, HCM, kidney disease, oral squamous cell cancer, feline calicivirus, and new drug treatments for Tritrichomonas foetus. Winn’s Grant Review Committee remains impressed by the scope of studies and commitment of the researchers who submit proposals each year. It is always very competitive as we select the studies that will receive funding. The committee considered 50 proposals and, based on a number of criteria including the quality of the science, impact of results and available funding, selected the top nine studies by consensus.”
Grants were awarded for the following research studies:
Identifying a genetic variability in cats associated with resistance or susceptibility to feline calicivirus. (W14-014)
Principal Investigator: John S. Parker; Baker Institute, Cornell University; $22,500
Evaluating the cardiovascular effects of a potential new drug, MK-476, in combination with dexmedetomidine for sedation or pre-anesthesia. (W 14-015)
Principal Investigator: Bruno Pypendop; University of California-Davis; $17,083
BRIA FUND STUDY:
Characterizing how FIP virus binds and enters cells. (W14-018)
Principal Investigator: Gary Whittaker; Cornell University; $24,851.00
RICKY FUND STUDY:
Using induced stem cells in a dish as a means to understanding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy development. (W14-024)
Principal Investigator: Jijun Hao; Western University of Health Sciences, CVM; $24,800.00
E.coli, a gastrointestinal infection – looking at a cause of death in kittens and determining whether probiotics offer a protective effect. (W14-035)
Principal Investigator: Jody L. Gookin; North Carolina State University; $22,011.00
Developing new drugs for the treatment of feline Tritrichomonas foetus infection. (W14-036)
Principal Investigator: Lars Eckmann, Yukiko Miyamoto; University of California-San Diego; $15,000.
Continued study into the use of stem cells for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in cats. (W14-039)
Principal Investigator: Jessica M. Quimby, Colorado State University; Allyson Berent, Animal Medical Center, NYC; $24,777.00
Analysis for three receptors in oral squamous cell cancer tissue biopsies – hope for a future treatment. (W14-042)
Principal Investigator: Rebecca George and Annette Smith; Auburn University; $5,505.00
Exploring the use of a fat-derived stem cell treatment for Syncytial Foamy Virus-Positive cats with severe inflammation of the mouth and gums. (W14-044)
Principal Investigator: Boaz Arzi, Dori L. Borjesson, Frank J.M. Verstraete; University of California-Davis; $16,594.56
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 listed above and go to our website for more information on the project and to make your sponsorship donation online.
About Winn Feline Foundation
The Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, the Winn Feline Foundation has funded more than $4 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions world-wide. For further information, go to www.winnfelinefoundation.org.