Morris Animal Foundation has awarded grants totaling $940,000 to 12 research projects in horse and alpaca health. The studies will help veterinary scientists improve these large animals’ well-being by preventing and treating health challenges such as equine herpesvirus, strangles, and fungal infection.

“Each of these studies has the potential to improve the lives of horses in significant ways, and we are very proud to support these innovative researchers in their efforts,” said Janet Patterson-Kane, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Morris Animal Foundation Chief Scientific Officer. “Our equine and alpaca companions deserve the healthiest lives we can give them.”

Through this year’s grants, the foundation is supporting researchers at 10 universities, including Texas A&M University, Washington State University, and North Carolina State University. The foundation’s Large Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary medicine. Large animal studies funded for 2019 include:

Understanding the Early Stages of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) Infections

Researchers will study EHV-1 to better understand how the disease develops and spreads. They hope new information from this study will help inform the development of better diagnostics and treatments as well as improve EHV-1 control measures