EveryCat Health Foundation
(Formerly Winn Feline Health Foundation)
www.everycat.org
2020 Feline Health Grants
15 Grants Funded for a Total of $304,477
Winn Feline Foundation is pleased to announce the award of fifteen feline medical research grants totaling $304,477.00 funded through the generous support of private and corporate donations from around the world.
Over the years, Winn Feline Foundation has helped to advance veterinary expertise in all areas of feline health. Research topics considered for funding are quite broad and can cover any issue that potentially benefits feline health and well-being such as disease identification, treatment and diagnostics, nutrition and behavior, to name a few. In addition, project selection is based on strict criteria, including scientific merit, clinical relevance, budgetary soundness, and humane treatment.
This year, the Winn Feline Foundation’s Grant Review Committee reviewed forty-four grant proposals and grants were awarded for the following studies:
Bria Fund Study
Mechanism of action of doxycycline in inhibiting feline infectious peritonitis virus. $25,000.00
PI: Gary R. Whittaker, PhD; Cornell University; W20-002
Developing a safe and effective anticoronaviral therapy for client-owned cats with FIP (continuation study). $21,500.00
PIs: Dr. Brian Murphy, Niels C. Pedersen; University of California, Davis; W20-003
Determining the clinical efficacy of mefloquine for treatment of naturally occurring feline infectious peritonitis, stage 1. $20,500.00
PIs: Professor Jacqueline Norris, Merran Govendir, Dr. Benjamin Kimble; University of Sydney; W20-005
Ricky Fund Studies
Transcriptomic analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 edited iPSC-CMs to identify and therapeutically target key biological pathways in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by the Ragdoll R820W mutation. $11,542.09
PIs: Professor David J Connolly and Dr. Luke Dutton; The Royal Veterinary College; (Ricky and General Fund) W20-007
Oncology Fund Studies
Investigating cell molecular biological influence of PTC-209, a novel anti-cancer stem cell drug, in cats with oral squamous cell carcinomas lines. $25,000.00
PI: Hiroto Yoshikawa; North Carolina State University; (Oncology and General Fund) W20-009
Feline Kidney Fund Studies in honor of Dr. Vicki Thayer
Feline Urinary Fund Studies
Evaluation of oxidative stress in nonazotemic cats with increased symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations. $19,426.00
PIs: Dr. William Whitehouse and Nicolette Cassel; Kansas State University; W20-016 (Feline Kidney Fund)
Phase 1 clinical trial investigating burst wave lithotripsy for treatment of obstructing ureteroliths in cats. $23,405.00
PIs: Eva Furrow and Jody Lulich; University of Minnesota; W20-019 (Feline Urinary Fund, Feline Kidney Fund, and General Fund)
Effects of general anesthesia and surgery on renal biomarkers in cats. $20,700.00
PI: Dr. Kavitha Kongara; Massey University; W20-039 (Feline Kidney Fund)
Infectious Disease Fund Studies
Probing Modulation of FeLV Integration Sites into the Cat Genome Using Epigenetic Modulators. $25,000.00
PIs: Drs. Cheryl Swenson Kruger and Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan; Michigan State University; W20-029 (Infectious Disease and General Fund)
General Studies Fund
In Vitro Characterization of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Pancreatic Amyloidosis for Diabetic Cats. $24,365.00
PI: Jessica Fortin; Michigan State University; W20-020
The effect of feeding frequency on feline energy metabolism and body composition – a long term study. $24,946.00
PIs: Adronie Verbrugghe and Anna Kate Shoveller; Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph; W20-021
Identification of Microsporum canis virulence factors. $21,366.00
PI: Sue VandeWoude; Colorado State University; W20-031
Development of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for Microsporum canis. $14,062.00
PI: Sue VandeWoude; Colorado State University; W20-032
The effect of an intravenous injection of branched-chain amino acids on body temperature of cats undergoing general anesthesia. $7,665.00
PI: Stuart Clark-Price; Auburn University; W20-040
Development and Initial Validation of a Frailty Scale for domestic cats. $20,000.00
PIs: Tony Buffington and Melissa J. Bain; University of California, Davis; W20-044