The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has authorized funding of 22 equine research projects for a total of $777,524 in the year 2002. The scientific research will address various important issues of horse health including mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), laminitis, athletic soundness, and cutting-edge use of stem cells for cartilage repair. The 22 projects will be conducted simultaneously at 16 universities in the United States and Canada.

Nine of the projects are two year-grants entering their second year, while 13 are one- or two-year grants being begun in 2002.

Following are descriptions of the new grants, to be launched in 2002:

ROLE OF INTESTINAL DISEASE AS A CAUSE OF LAMINITIS
Dr. Philip Johnson, University of Missouri. First year, $55,360
Laminitis (founder) continues to be one of the most common and baffling lameness issues in horses and frequently results in humane destruction. Recent work on laminitis has given rise to an hypothesis which this project will probe further. Namely, overgrowth of a specific bacteria (Streptococcus bovis) in the large intestine is thought to be associated with production of toxins which can cause laminitis