EveryCat Health Foundation
https://everycat.org/
2020 CaP-K Grant Awards
2 Grants Funded Totalling $84,513

EveryCat Health Foundation, in a special funding opportunity co-sponsored by Nestlé Purina Petcare and Mars Petcare, is funding grants that address the effect that dietary phosphorus and calcium to phosphorus ratio have on renal health in cats as well as biomarkers to detect early renal disease. 

Topics of Interest:

• The Impact of Dietary Phosphorus and Calcium (CaP-K) on Feline Kidney Health
• Early Renal Disease Biomarkers

The overall goal of such research is to provide evidence that will lead to scientific consensus on safe levels and types of dietary phosphorus for feline diets. High-priority areas that have been identified and will be given special consideration include:

• Investigation of factors that influence phosphorus bioavailability and metabolism including source and form of phosphorus in foods.
• Identification of biomarkers of renal injury (i.e., especially markers that detect early kidney changes before irreversible damage occurs).
• Identification of in vitro assays that correlate with in vivo function of phosphorus sources.

“Kidney disease is the number one cause of death in older cats, but its cause is unknown. EveryCat Health Foundation has teamed up with two giants of the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina Petcare, and Mars Petcare, to fund health studies investigating these critical areas that improve the quality and longevity of every cat’s life,” states Drew Weigner, DVM, EveryCat Health Foundation’s Past President.

2020 grants awarded are as follows:

Investigating the genetic basis of total body phosphate overload in cats with mild azotemic chronic kidney disease. $49,950
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Rebecca Geddes; Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom. CaP-K20-001
Many cats with chronic kidney disease develop high levels of phosphorus in their blood, leading to rapid decline and bone disorders. This study will perform whole genome sequencing to look for a genetic basis for this condition, leading to potential treatments and improved longevity.

Impact of feline circadian rhythms on phosphorus and parathyroid hormone concentrations. $34,563
Principal Investigator(s): Andrea J. Fascetti, Professor, VMD, PhD, DACVN, DACVIM, University of California­ Davis. CaP-K20-003
Blood phosphorus levels are often measured in cats, especially those with kidney disease but, in humans, the level varies during the day (called the “circadian rhythm”) affecting its interpretation. This study will measure the phosphorus level in normal cats throughout the day to determine if and how it changes, which will increase the accuracy of the interpretation of phosphorous levels and enable a more accurate determination of abnormal results.