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DENVER/March 10, 2021 – Morris Animal Foundation, one of the largest nonprofits funding animal health studies globally, is pleased to announce the establishment of its Feline Scientific Advisory Board (FSAB). This board will award grants for research projects focused on cat health every year. Prior to 2020, when the Foundation tested this concept, it maintained a Small Animal Advisory Board, which awarded grants to both canine and feline health studies.

“Cats are the second most popular four-legged pet in America and the most popular in European households, but cat health research unfortunately is often seen as taking second place to canine research,” said Dr. Janet Patterson-Kane, Morris Animal Foundation Chief Scientific Officer. “We want to reinforce our dedication to their well-being by continuing to increase the number and impact of feline submissions we receive in our annual call for proposals and ensure those are reviewed by experts with a feline focus.”

The Foundation’s FSAB, now one of six scientific advisory boards at the Foundation, is comprised of nine members who represent a diversity of scientific specialties and species expertise. Their review process ensures the Foundation supports the highest quality research by providing objective opinions from experts in the field. Each year, the boards evaluate hundreds of grant proposals in total and recommend which ones to fund, based on scientific merit and the potential to save lives, preserve health and advance veterinary care.

The founding members to this board are:

  • Dr. Joshua Stern, the Board’s Chair, is an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Davis. His expertise is in cardiology and genetics. He received his DVM from The Ohio State University and his PhD from Washington State University. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (cardiology).
  • Dr. Sara Bennett is an assistant clinical professor of behavioral medicine at North Carolina State University. Bringing expertise in clinical behavior, shelter behavior and welfare, she earned her DVM from Purdue University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
  • Dr. Gregg Dean is a professor and head of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology at Colorado State University. His expertise is in pathology and immunology. He received both his DVM and PhD from CSU and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
  • Dr. Timothy Fan is assistant head of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His expertise is in oncology and internal medicine. He received his DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and his PhD from UIUC. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (oncology, internal medicine).
  • Dr. Annette Litster is a senior veterinary specialist at Zoetis Inc. and is a feline infectious disease expert. She earned a BVSc and PhD from the University of Queensland and is a Fellow of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.
  • Dr. Jessica Quimby is an associate professor of small animal internal medicine at Ohio State. She brings expertise in nephrology and feline medicine and earned her DVM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD from CSU. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
  • Dr. Sheilah Robertson is the senior medical director at Lap of Love, a nationwide veterinary hospice and in-home euthanasia company. She brings expertise in end-of-life care, pain management and geriatrics. She earned her BVMS from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and her PhD from the University of Bristol, England. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, the European College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (Welfare, Science Ethics and Law) and the American College of Animal Welfare, and is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
  • Dr. Paulo Steagall is an associate professor in veterinary anesthesiology and pain management at the Université de Montréal, Canada. He earned his DVM and PhD from Brazil’s Sao Paulo State University and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.
  • Dr. Jenessa Winston is an assistant professor of small animal internal medicine at Ohio State. She brings expertise in gastroenterology and the microbiome. She earned her DVM and PhD from NCSU. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (small animal internal medicine).

Since 1950, Morris Animal Foundation has invested almost $17 million in more than 420 feline health studies. It has contributed to the development of the first vaccine for feline leukemia, pioneered cat genetic research and improved the health and welfare of shelter cats around the world, among many other advances.

About Morris Animal Foundation

Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Headquartered in Denver, and founded in 1948, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $136 million in critical studies across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.