A Healthier Tomorrow for Animals

Morris Animal Foundation

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Who Is Morris Animal Foundation?
Morris Animal Foundation helps animals enjoy
longer, healthier lives. We advance health and
welfare research that protects, treats and cures
companion animals, horses and wildlife worldwide.

Our vision is a healthier tomorrow for animals.

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Hill’s and MAF Heritage
1939: Inspirational Relationship Begins
Morris Frank takes his sick guide dog, Buddy, to Dr.
Mark Morris Sr.

Dr. Morris treats Buddy with a unique, revolutionary diet.

Buddy shows remarkable improvement from kidney
failure. More dogs with serious health ailments improve
dramatically due to the diet.

Burton Hill and Dr. Morris form a partnership that

inspires establishment of Hill’s Pet Nutrition and MAF.

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 A History of Improving Animal Health
Founded in 1948 by a visionary
veterinarian, Morris Animal Foundation
today is a world leader in advancing
veterinary research to protect, treat and
cure companion animals, horses and
wildlife.

The Foundation has funded more than

1,600 studies, many of which have led to
breakthroughs in diagnostics,
treatments, prevention and cures.

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 MAF Then
Dr. Morris establishes MAF in 1948 based on his
belief that animals need a foundation of their own
to improve their health.

Mission:
Morris Animal Foundation improves the health and
well-being of companion animals and wildlife by
funding humane health studies and disseminating
information about those studies.

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 MAF Now
2008-2009 Health Study Profile
• 94 new studies (dogs 31, cats 23, horses 12, llamas/alpacas 5, wildlife 20,
miscellaneous 3), more than 150 total studies
• ~50 species

• 6 countries

• 50+ institutions

• Training programs: 43 veterinary student scholars were introduced to a

career in research this year

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Ensuring Animal Welfare—Study Policy
Morris Animal Foundation funds scientific research that is
conducted with care, compassion and respect for all animals.

• The Health Study Policy for Animals Involved in

Research is one of the strongest in the industry
• All proposals are reviewed by expert scientific advisory
boards
• Study proposals that involve inducing pain or injury or
end in euthanasia are reviewed by the Animal Welfare
Advisory Board before funding approval
• Funding is based on relevancy, humane treatment of
animals and scientific
Research tosoundness
protect, treat and cure animals
 2010 Funding
• $7.5 million in FY10
• Committed to $13 million over next three years
• ~240 studies in 2010. Funding includes:
o Traditional grants to established researchers
o Training fellowships
o Veterinary student scholar grants
o Large-scale initiatives such as those funded by the
Canine Cancer and Happy Healthy Cat campaigns
o Proactive research

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 key

Why Partner with MAF?

• 25 staff people to provide oversight, management and
marketing/communications support (10 percent administrative fee
for newly designed/proactive research)
• 25 expert scientists review all traditional studies (dogs, cats,
horses and wildlife)
• 12 expert cancer researchers and epidemiologists advise on
National Canine Health Initiative (includes National Cancer
Institute)
• 12 expert feline researchers advise on feline genetics consortium
(includes National Institutes of Health)
• MAF provides 8 percent overhead
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
 Better Health for Dogs
Then: MAF funds first canine study 1950
Successes since:
• Development of first vaccine preventing the deadly
parvovirus infection
• Development of early detection test for lymphoma
• Insight into better therapies for heart disease
• Genetic tests to breed out blindness

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Helping Dogs Today
• Canine Cancer Campaign: New
treatments, new tools and new research
(prevention)

• Identification of arthritis as number-one

cause of guide dog retirement (Laura J.
Niles Foundation)

• Studies related to shelter dogs and

behavior issues

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Better Health for Cats
Then: MAF funds first feline study in 1950
Successes since:
• Developed feline leukemia vaccine

• Identified diet that controls diabetes mellitus and

reduces insulin requirement
• Tested drugs that could be beneficial in treating
heart and kidney disease, asthma and eye
infections
• Tested successful antifertility vaccine with
potential uses for population control
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
Helping Cats Today
• Funding new studies into upper respiratory
disease that could save lives of thousands in
shelters

• Developing genetic tools to address major

diseases in cats worldwide (Happy Healthy Cat
Campaign launches November 2008)

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Better Health for Horses
Then: MAF funds first equine study in 1959
Successes since:
• Research led to Potomac horse fever
vaccine
• Discovery of genetic marker for combined
immunodeficiency disease (CID)
• Phototherapy to treat eye and facial cancer
• New, safer drug combination to control
pain in postoperative colic patients

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Helping Horses Today
• Global project: Equine Consortium for
Genetic Research

• Closing in on genetic causes for

• Pasture laminitis
• Cribbing
• Foal pneumonia
• Tying-up
• Cancer

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Better Health for Wildlife
Then: MAF funds first study in 1967
Successes:
• Research and veterinary care to help save the last 700
mountain gorillas on earth — it’s the only species of
great ape on the rise
• Research contributing to the globally celebrated birth
of giant pandas in captivity and now in the wild
• California legislation passed as a result of
MAF-funded research to protect endangered sea
otters

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Helping Wildlife Today

• Saving endangered
frogs

• Helping coral reefs reproduce

• Managing populations of elephants

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Better Health for Llamas and Alpacas

Then: MAF funds

First llama study: 1990
First alpaca study: 1994

GALA: Funded more than

$100K since 1991!

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Successes since:
• Determined appropriate drug and dosages for
preventing meningeal worm in llamas

• Determined optimal dose of

vitamin D for preventing
rickets in young camelids
living in certain geographic
locations

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Better Health for Llamas and Alpacas
• Funded genetic work leading

to the alpaca genome

sequencing (March 2008)

• Safer anesthesia protocol

for llamas/alpacas

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Helping Llamas and Alpacas Today
• Developing new genetic tools to optimally use
alpaca sequence in assessing causes of disease
• Assess genetic cause of choanal atresia

• Assess pain management regimes/drugs

• Develop diagnostic tests to better understand

fatty liver syndrome

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

• An Integrated (Coding Gene and
Microsatellite Marker) Radiation Hybrid
Map of the alpaca. Warren Johnson PhD
• Discovery of Microsatellites in Alpacas
Kylie Munyard
• Identifying Markers and Populations for
study of inherited traits in South American
Camelids. Juan Carlow Marin

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Vaccination to Prevent Disease Caused by
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis

Investigators identified and studied four proteins that have potential to

serve as vaccines for Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. Research on similar
proteins from other parasites indicates that these P. tenuis proteins are
excellent targets for vaccination. Investigators hope to test these proteins
in a follow-up study. In addition to identifying the proteins, the study
discovered that the infectious stage of this parasite can emerge from
snails and slugs, and it has the potential to contaminate vegetation and
promote transmission of the parasite.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Judith A. Appleton, Cornell University
Study ID: D01LA-013

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

• Dose Titration of Oral and Injectable
Moxidectin and Oral Monantel Tartrate in
Camelids

Lisa Williamson DVM

University of Georgia

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Research to protect, treat and cure animals
ARF’s Mission
“To encourage and support
scientific research which
benefits the North American
alpaca industry, primarily in
areas of alpaca health and
husbandry, genetics
and fiber”

Photo by: Kerry Anderson

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Using objective measurements to identify superior
characteristics of US alpaca and assist in making
Long term breeding decisions.
Angus McColl, Yocum McCollTesting
Laboratories
• A study was conducted to establish a comprehensive
profile of US Huacaya alpaca fiber characteristics
that will be useful for educational, promotional,
policy, selection, and breeding purposes.
Alpacas Magazine Summer 2004

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

• An Evaluation of Objective Measurements of Luster in Suri
Alpaca Fleeces and Comparison with Subjective
Assessments

• Principal Investigators:
Angus McColl and Christopher Lupton, PhD
Yocum-McColl Testing Laboratory and Texas A and M University System
San Angelo, TX
$29,050
9/1/08-8/31/10
•

• 100 Suri alpaca samples will be assembled by members of the Suri Network. White, black and 8
standard ARI colors will be equally represented. The full range of luster values and a wide range
of fiber diameters will be represented within each color range. Every effort will be made to use
samples that are geographically and genetically diverse. The samples will be assessed for color
and luster before and after washing by 5 fiber judges and two instruments, the Samba and a near-
infrared reflectance spectrometer. In addition, each sample will be analyzed for lab scoured yield,
fiber diameter, fiber curvature, and staple length and strength. Using data from the Samba
instrument, an estimate of luster will be calculated that is independent of color. Subsequently,
mathematical relationships between the Samba and NIRS luster measurements versus subjective
luster assessments, lab scoured yield, average fiber diameter (and variability), average fiber
curvature (and variability), staple length (and variability) and strength (and variability) will be
determined.

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Humoral Response to EEE
Vaccination in Healthly Alpacas
Daniela Bedenice DVM
Tuffs University
The purpose of this study is to establish the
serological( humoral) response to an Eastern
Equine Encephalititis (EEE) vacine (Encevac
TM Intervet) in 45 healthy alpacas.
$9,855.00
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
Partners for Knowledge
• ARF cooperates with MAF to provide:
– Alpaca industry input to MAF projects
– Funding support for select MAF projects
– Representation on the MAF Board of Directors and
Executive Committee

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Training Veterinary Scientists
• Fellowship training and First Award Grants: Trains
new scientists
• Veterinary Student Scholars: Attract veterinary
students to research
• Veterinary students graduate with average debt of
$119,000
• Recruiting diversity for our future

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Advance Research
• Customized research targeting critical animal health issues

• More corporations looking to outsource (MAF provides oversight,

8 percent ICR)

• Working together to increase revenue for clinical trials

• Study sponsorships

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Proactive Research
Diseases of most concern to our “customers”:
• Dogs: cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies and parasites

• Cats: urinary disease, heart/kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism,

cancer

• Horses: laminitis/lameness, colic, foal pneumonia

• Llama/Alpacas: We need your input!

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Question: List your top three health
issues of concern for llamas/alpacas

Give to me after my presentation and I

will forward to Morris Animal
Foundation

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

Sincere thanks to GALA for
being a terrific partner

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Happy Healthy Cat Campaign
• Response to $1 million Hill’s donation, high
interest in genetic research worldwide
• Response high to feline health interest worldwide
• Response to MAF donor requests for cat focus,
similar to the Canine Cancer Campaign
• Marketing-driven program: Web, direct mail,
external communications, independent of
development resources
• MAF works closely with industry partners

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 MAF Partnerships
Corporate Partners/Super Heroes

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

2008-2009 Animal Health Studies
Funding nearly 200 traditional
studies, consortium grants and
veterinary student projects.

~50 institutions worldwide

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

New Partners
Catster
Cru Vin Dog Wine Group
Disney
Dogster
Fort Dodge
Intervet
VCA Animal Hospitals
Wells Fargo
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
New Partners
Banfield the Pet Hospital
Blue Buffalo Foundation for
Cancer Research
Bow Tie
Camp Bow Wow
Glaxo-Smith Klein
Mars Veterinary
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
 New Partners
Merial
Motorsport Technology Group
Pets Best Insurance
PetScreen
Procter & Gamble
Pfizer Animal Health
Research to protect, treat and cure animals
Team Effort for Animal Health
2008 GALA Conference/Annual Meeting

Research to protect, treat and cure animals

 Why Partner with MAF?
• 25 staff people to provide oversight, management and
marketing/communications support (10 percent administrative fee
for newly designed/proactive research)
• 25 expert scientists review all traditional studies (dogs, cats,
horses and wildlife)
• 12 expert cancer researchers and epidemiologists advise on
National Canine Health Initiative (includes National Cancer
Institute)
• 12 expert feline researchers advise on feline genetics consortium
(includes National Institutes of Health)
• MAF provides 8 percent overhead
Research to protect, treat and cure animals