Zoetis Funding Cat Health Foundation Research Awards

(fnal.gov)

26 February 2014. Zoetis Inc., an animal health company in Florham Park, New Jersey, is funding grants to researchers for studies into pain, joint health, and kidney disorders in cats. Grants totaling $100,000 will be made available through the Winn Feline Foundation, with a due date for proposals of 21 April 2014.

The company says the grants will support research into biomarkers as indicators of acute and chronic pain in cats, both the adaptive pain of healing tissue and non-adaptive pain, such as neuropathic pain. Studies of osteoarthritis in cats are also sought in the proposals, including those investigating causes and progression of the disorder, as well as related biomarkers.

In addition, Zoetis and Winn Feline Foundation are seeking proposals identifying biomarkers of chronic kidney disease, both systemic and urinary biomarkers. The funders say there’s an urgent need for early detection methods for kidney disorders.

The Winn Feline Foundation expects to award grants of $12,000 to $35,000 for projects lasting one to two years, although larger undertakings will be considered. Proposals must be submitted in a single document following the foundation’s instructions and are required to include cover page, scientific summary, non-technical abstract, study proposal, timeline, budget, animal involvement justification, references, curriculum vitae of the principal investigators, and consent forms with questionnaires.

If the proposed research is a continuation of a current foundation-funded study, a progress report of that study is also required. The deadline for proposals is 21 April 2014.

Zoetis was previously a division of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, spun off as a separate animal health enterprise in February 2013. In April 2013, the company awarded grants to researchers at University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University for basic science studies diagnosing and treating dermatological conditions in dogs and cats.

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