terovesalainen/stock.adobe.com
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/0vv8moc6/dvm360/33c01ed56462d3055666827deb7cd04aff18a6de-8066x5263.jpg?fit=crop&auto=format)
The Morris Animal Foundation announced that it had selected 10 new scholarship studies to receive funding, including 2 funded by longtime donor Sally R. McIntosh. Selected studies will support promising young veterinary scientists as they focus on a multitude of topics, including lethal infections in dogs, amphibian conservation, and immune response disorders in horses.
“Our fellowship training program is one of the most effective investments we can make in animal health research,” Kathy Tietje, PhD, MBA, program director at the Morris Animal Foundation, said in an organizational statement. .1 “We are delighted to be able to support these highly qualified candidates at this critical stage in their careers. »
The following studies will begin this year:1
- Amir Aliramezani of Jagiellonian University, Poland: This study will evaluate the 9 drugs currently available for the treatment of fatal algae infections in dogs.
- Nora Jean Nealon of Ohio State University: This study will examine antibiotic resistance in dogs with urinary tract infections caused by E.colias well as gut microbiota responses to antibiotics in dogs with or without multidrug resistance E.coli strains, to help inform the use of antibiotics.
- Shun Kimura of the University of Georgia: This study will help determine the feasibility of using a currently available veterinary drug as a treatment for systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
- Rebecca C. Bishop of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: This study will examine the proteins and genetic makeup of peritoneal fluid as a first step toward a diagnostic test to predict which horses are at higher risk for complications from colic surgery.
- Danielle Scott of Colorado State University: The study will take a closer look at how air pollution affects outdoor horse training and use this information to inform management recommendations and training.
- Emily R. Whitmer of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: This study will aggregate data on the health of wild Humboldt penguins and create health and disease models to aid in conservation efforts.
- Yale University’s Camila Benavides Espejo: Espejo will study biomarkers in the blood of African buffalo that could provide a quick and accurate way to diagnose bovine tuberculosis and help control the spread of this common disease in animals.
- David Daversa of the University of California, Los Angeles: The study will assess the health and well-being of amphibian populations using epigenetics as a potential new tool for amphibian conservation.
- Matheus Moreno Passos Barbosa of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: The study will determine how to block an immune protein associated with the accelerated spread of osteosarcoma in dogs.
- Marcos Isidoro-Ayz of the University of Wisconsin-Madison: Isidoro-Ayz will test a promising new drug to protect North American bats against white-nose syndrome, a serious and highly fatal fungal infection.
According to the foundation,1 studies conducted by Moreno Passo Barbosa and Isidor-Ayza were chosen for funding specifically by McIntosh, who wanted to provide scholarships to support applicants from historically marginalized groups. From these groups, McIntosh selected candidates interested in studying dog and wildlife health. McIntosh has been a donor to the Morris Animal Foundation since 2009, where her first donation was to help advance greyhound health research. She has since extended her support to other areas, including wildlife health.
Reference
The Morris Animal Foundation announces fellowships to support animal health research and veterinary scientists. Press release. Morris Foundation for Animals. May 30, 2023. Accessed May 30, 2023.