Morris Animal Foundation funds 13 wildlife studies with $850KSeptember 25, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will extend $850,000 to fund 13 wildlife research studies. Through the new grants, the foundation is supporting scientists from Tufts University, Cornell University, and the Smithsonian Institution. The foundation's Wildlife Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary care. Wildlife studies funded for 2018 include: Understanding the Impact of Lead Poisoning in Bald Eagles Researchers will analyze multiple data sources to learn if lead continues to impact the long-term health and recovery of bald eagles. This new information will be used to help inform policy and public communication about lead exposure in bald eagles and other wildlife. Tackling Another Contagious Cancer in Tasmanian Devils Researchers will investigate a second, recently discovered, contagious cancer in Tasmanian devils, devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). Understanding how the disease is evolving and spreading will provide important clues on how to manage this disease and other contagious cancers affecting both Tasmanian devils and dogs. Saving Endangered Frogs from Deadly Fungal Disease Researchers will look at ways to boost the immunity of …
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Morris Animal Foundation names new president and CEOSeptember 25, 2018Morris Animal Foundation announced that Tiffany Grunert is the organization's new president and CEO. Grunert, who joined the foundation in 2017 as vice president of marketing and brand strategy, has been serving as acting president and CEO since February 2018. Grunert takes charge of a $15 million annual budget, an $80 million endowment, and 40 employees. Morris Animal Foundation funds more than 200 scientific studies annually and has contributed more than $118 million over 70 years to advance the health and well-being of animals around the world. Established in 1948, it acts to advance veterinary medicine, protect endangered species, and train new scientists. "With Morris Animal Foundation's rich and beautiful history, and our bright future to continue to advance animal health, I am honored to serve as the next president and CEO," Grunert said. "The foundation's board of trustees has entrusted me with an organization of enormous importance and deep value. I recognize the magnitude of our current efforts and the need to advance our strategic initiatives to grow our impact. We must ensure that there is always a robust resource to improve animal health." As acting president and CEO, Grunert advanced the Golden Retriever Lifetime …
Morris Animal Foundation receives $2.3M legacy giftAugust 30, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has received a $2.3 million legacy gift from the estate of Karl D. Smith, a Denver businessman. Smith, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 83, first learned about MAF through a past employee and was supportive of its mission to advance the health of animals. "We are deeply appreciative to Mr. Smith for his visionary generosity almost 10 years ago in making a planned gift to benefit animals everywhere, and we are grateful to his estate trustee and estate attorney who have stewarded Mr. Smith's legacy so carefully," said Tiffany Grunert, acting CEO and president of MAF. MAF is a nonprofit, global organization focused on improving the health of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife. Founded by a veterinarian in 1948, its mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. "The significance of this gift to Morris Animal Foundation cannot be overstated," said Grunert. "Legacy giving is vitally important to our mission as we work to increase the number of studies we fund to address critical animal health problems around the world."
Morris Animal Foundation announces second National Dog Day campaignAugust 3, 2018Since 2004, National Dog Day has been observed on Aug. 26 to encourage dog ownership of mixed-breed and purebred dogs, and to remind us all that canine companions deserve to live long, healthy lives. That's why for the second year in a row, Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) is running a campaign this month through Aug. 26, in which an anonymous donor will match all gifts made to the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. The $32 million study gathers information on more than 3,000 golden retrievers throughout their lives to identify the nutritional, environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors for cancer and other canine diseases. Its primary goal is to reveal potential risk factors that may lead to the development of four types of cancers common in golden retrievers: hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumors, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma. Donations can be made to the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study at MAF's website here.
University of Sydney researchers discover domestic cat hepadnavirusMay 31, 2018Scientists in Australia have identified a new feline disease, tentatively named domestic cat hepadnavirus, which is similar to that of hepatitis B in humans. The discovery, which has been published in the journal Viruses, could impact human medical research, as well as the health of cats, according to the University of Sydney research team. Researchers at the university made the breakthrough during their search for cancer-causing viruses in the tissue of an immunocompromised cat. The disease was identified after Jasper, a cat belonging to researcher Julia Beatty, Ph.D., professor of feline medicine at the university, died from heart disease and was found to be carrying a virus previously unidentified in cats. The Morris Animal Foundation-funded research team, including Dr. Beatty, was able to map a complete genome of the new virus and then tested banked samples from cats, including Jasper. In addition to his heart disease, Jasper also had feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Researchers found the new domestic cat hepadnavirus present in 10 percent of cats tested with FIV and 3.2 percent of non-FIV infected cats, mirroring the higher frequency of hepatitis B found in humans with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Beatty affirmed …
NYC Animal Medical Center leads global feline cardiovascular risk studyMay 21, 2018NYC's Animal Medical Center (AMC) announced the publication of a research study that identifies how hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—a form of heart disease that can cause sudden death and heart failure in people—is also present in cats and linked to serious health problems in these pets. Termed "The Reveal Study," the collaborative, international, 10-year investigation involved 50 veterinary centers in 21 countries in an effort to learn how this disease impacts the health of cats over more than a decade.1 Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, lead author, Philip Fox, DVM, MS, DACVIM/ECVIM (Cardiology), DACVECC, is head of cardiology at the Animal Medical Center and director of its Caspary Research Institute. The study reports that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a global feline health problem and estimates that it might affect millions of pet cats. Although the disease has been known by veterinarians for nearly 50 years, almost nothing was known about its epidemiology until now. "The Reveal Study documented that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy puts cats at considerable risk to develop congestive heart failure, arterial blood clots, and cardiac death," said Dr. Fox. "Heart failure or blood clots occur in nearly one-third of affected cats, and overall, one in every three or …
MAF study finds tramadol ineffective against osteoarthritis in dogsMay 9, 2018 A report funded by the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) out of the University of Georgia has found tramadol to be ineffective in alleviating signs of pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. "The data shows conclusively that tramadol is not an effective drug in treating the pain associated with arthritis in the dog, despite its common recommendation," said Steven Budsberg, DVM, BS, MS, DACVS, professor of surgery/director of clinical research at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "This use of tramadol is a classic example of failing to acknowledge and control for bias when evaluating a potential treatment." The reported data was collected by Dr. Budsberg and his research team via a randomized, blinded, placebo, and positive-controlled crossover study. The group compared tramadol against both placebo and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with dogs afflicted with osteoarthritis of the elbow or knee assigned to receive each of three treatments in a random order and each treatment arm lasting for 10 days. Improvement was measured using a variety of tests to evaluate the patient's gait and pain. The results showed no improvement when tramadol was administered compared to either baseline or placebo. "This study reinforces the need to carefully and …
MAF awards Penn $775K to test osteosarcoma immunotherapy vaccine in dogsApril 20, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has awarded a $775,000 grant to the University of Pennsylvania to test a vaccine that could improve longevity and quality of life for dogs with osteosarcoma. The research team will conduct clinical trials to evaluate a novel immunotherapy treatment that combines a molecule expressed by cancer cells with a modified live form of Listeria monocytogenes. A pilot study demonstrated this combination elicited a powerful, targeted immune response directed against osteosarcoma cells in patients suffering from this type of cancer. "This could be an incredible breakthrough in the fight against osteosarcoma, a highly aggressive and deadly cancer," said Kelly Diehl, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), senior scientific programs and communications adviser at MAF. "For the last 50 years, Morris Animal Foundation has been funding cancer studies, and this is one of the largest, single grants we have ever awarded. The results of the pilot study were so compelling, that we knew we had to support this research team and their progression to a clinical trial." The vaccine, created by removing harmful genes from the Listeria bacteria and then attaching markers of osteosarcoma cells, supplements standard osteosarcoma treatment of amputation and chemotherapy by attacking cancer cells that …
MAF Unite to Fight Animal Cancer campaign kicks off fifth yearApril 9, 2018Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has launched its fifth annual Unite to Fight Animal Cancer campaign, which raises funds for research that will lead to new information about how to prevent, diagnose earlier, and treat animal cancers. In dogs and cats, cancer accounts for nearly half of all disease-related deaths each year, with approximately 11 million new diagnoses made annually. Since 1948, MAF has funded more than 300 cancer studies—investing nearly $40 million. "Imagine a world where all cancers are treatable and more cures possible," said Tiffany Grunert, acting president/CEO of MAF. "This is a vicious disease that is seen in the pets we love and the wild animals we admire, and with the help of our supporters we can change that." MAF funding has led to numerous breakthroughs and advancements in cancer care, including: Improved cancer surgery imaging for complete surgical removal of tumors in cats and dogs, improving both treatment decisions and decreasing incidence of tumor recurrence Testing of a canine melanoma vaccine, now confirmed safe and effective in horses with melanoma, providing an effective treatment for a devastating cancer in horses Clinical trials for promising treatments for osteosarcoma, a devastating cancer in dogs, that give …
Morris Animal Foundation, Smithsonian team for wildlife veterinarian training programApril 4, 2018To help cultivate the finest wildlife veterinarians of tomorrow, Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) and the Smithsonian Global Health Program (SGHP) have collaborated to establish the Morris Animal Foundation and Dennis and Connie Keller Director of Training at SGHP. The position is responsible for national and international training programs in wildlife veterinary medicine. Morris Animal Foundation will dedicate $700,000 over seven years to fund the position. "This is a truly exciting opportunity and one we are proud to see come to fruition," said Tiffany Grunert, acting president and CEO of MAF. "This wildlife health training program will leverage our funding and the Smithsonian's expertise to multiply our collective impact to save animal lives around the world." Lindsey Shields, DVM, DACVPM, has been named as the first MAF and Dennis and Connie Keller Director of Training. She is an epidemiologist and board-certified preventive medicine veterinarian with substantial experience in international public health and capacity building. In her new role, Dr. Shields will supervise four to eight trainees every year, including veterinary students and veterinarians, from countries around the world as well as in the U.S. Trainees will conduct research focused on a wildlife health issue based on the program's priorities and the trainee's …
