MEDIA ALERT: DENVER/December 17, 2024 — Morris Animal Foundation announced funding for eight new canine health studies to improve the health and well-being of senior dogs.
“Dogs are living longer, and we need studies aimed at the specific health needs of senior dogs,” said Dr. Kelly Diehl, Senior Director of Science Communication at Morris Animal Foundation. “These studies will help owners and veterinarians better care for older pets."
Three award types received funding:
- Established Investigator: These funds go to researchers with a track record of expertise demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
- Pilot Study: These awards fund proof-of-concept studies within the realm of animal health research.
- Fellowship Training: These special awards are designed to assist new investigators in launching a successful research career by providing salary support in a quality mentoring environment.
Grant recipients and their topics are:
- Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Colorado State University — Researchers will work on developing a new type of gene therapy to treat osteoarthritis, a crippling disease common in older dogs.
- Dr. Craig Coon, Four Rivers Kennel — The team will look at the influence of the oral microbiome on periodontal disease in senior dogs.
- Dr. Péter Pongrácz, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary — Researchers will study how a dog’s lifetime activity influences cognitive decline.
- Dr. Audrey Ruple, Virginia Tech — The team will investigate how the loss of a companion affects cognitive decline in dogs.
- Dr. Ezekiel Adebowale, University of Ibadan, Nigeria — This Fellowship Training grant recipient will compare canine parvovirus strains circulating in dogs in Nigeria with the strains used to create vaccines to see if their current vaccines need to be adjusted for local conditions.
- Dr. Isabel Boutet, University of Ottawa, Canada – Researchers will develop educational tools for veterinarians to use to teach their clients about healthy aging in dogs.
- Dr. Nicole Riddle, University of Alabama, Birmingham – Researchers will test to see if a common blood test marker of red blood cell width can predict lifespan in dogs.
- Dr. Andria Beal, EpiPaws – This team will look at DNA patterns to identify new biomarkers associated with obesity and age-related disease in Golden Retriever Lifetime Study samples.
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $167 million in 3,100+ critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Washington
