Morris Animal Foundation, a leader in advancing animal health, has awarded nearly $1 million in large animal health research grants, supporting 14 projects, including one at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center. The studies will help veterinary scientists improve the well-being of horses through improved prevention and treatment of numerous health challenges.

“We were very impressed with the quality of proposals received this year and we believe they have the potential to drive significant improvements in the well-being of our equine companions,” said Janet Patterson-Kane, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Morris Animal Foundation Chief Scientific Officer. “We are very proud to support these enterprising researchers in their endeavors.”

Through this year’s grants, the Foundation is supporting teams at 13 universities and institutions. 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 care.

One study approved for this year is for work done by Amanda Adams, PhD, associate professor and MARS Equestrian Fellow at UK’s Gluck Equine Research Center.

The study, titled “Understanding How Diet Composition Influences Insulin Response in Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome,” is a one-year, $47,570 study. Adams and her team will study how diet composition affects insulin levels in horses with equine metabolic syndrome as a step toward improving dietary recommendations to control this condition.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a growing problem in horses. The disease is a leading cause of laminitis, a painful and devastating inflammatory condition of the hoof. Insulin dysregulation (ID), a condition where insulin levels fluctuate abnormally in response to feeding, is a component of EMS. There is a lack of informative studies on the nutritional management of ID and EMS. Researchers plan to analyze data on EMS horses fed five different forage diets to better understand insulin response. This new information will be used to help improve dietary management of EMS-ID horses.

About Morris Animal Foundation

Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded by a veterinarian in 1948, we fund and conduct critical health studies for the benefit of all animals. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

Source: Edited Sept. 17 news release from Morris Animal Foundation