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Media Contact: Steve Dale (773) 525-8696

WINN FELINE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS FOR FELINE HEALTH STUDIES IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MILLER TRUST

Hillsborough, NJ, November 17, 2011: The Winn Feline Foundation is pleased
to announce the award of six feline medical research grants funded in
partnership with the George Sydney and Phyllis Redman Miller Trust in 2011.
Winn President Vicki Thayer, DVM, commented, “We are excited about the
proposals that have received funding. This year we awarded $102,887 in
grants for studies on stem cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease and
asthma, cancer therapy, FIP, pain management, and a safe imaging and oxygen
delivery chamber for cats.”

Grants were awarded for the following research studies:
*Allogeneic Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Cats with
Inflammatory Bowel Disease $14,124 Craig B. Webb, PhD, DVM, DACVIM; Tracy
L. Webb, DVM, PhD; Colorado State University, MT 11-001*
The most common cause of chronic diarrhea in cats is inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD). This condition is thought to be the result of a disruption
in the normal function of intestinal tract cells and the immune system.
Additionally, these cells interact with dietary constituents and organisms
in the lumen of the digestive tract, resulting in chronic inflammation and
poor intestinal function. This leads to persistent diarrhea, often
accompanied by weight loss, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Owners of
these unfortunate cats are often asked to give multiple medications to
their pets on a daily basis. This situation may persist for the life of the
pet, and sometimes diarrhea control is inadequate. The quality of life of
both pet and owner is significantly affected. A form of stem cell therapy
known as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) has come to the forefront in
recent years as a potential therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory
diseases. This cell therapy helps correct abnormalities in the immune
system that leads to this inflammation. Previous research in this
laboratory has shown that feline adipose-derived MSC (fMSC) can be easily
generated in large quantities from a small amount of adult tissue, such as
adipose or fat, and then safely administered back to diseased cats with no
notable side effects. This study proposes to evaluate the use of
adipose-derived fMSC as a treatment for feline IBD.

*Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Novel Treatment for Feline Asthma: Evaluation
of Efficacy and Mechanism of Immunomodulation $24,565.76 Carol R. Reinero,
DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Associate Professor; Amy E. DeClue, DVM, DACVIM,
Assistant Professor; University of Missouri, MT 11-002*
Asthma is a common breathing disorder in cats, decreasing quality of life
and sometimes causing death. Asthma is currently managed using
corticosteroids, a treatment involving unpleasant side effects.
Corticosteroids cannot be used in cats with concurrent diseases such as
diabetes. Importantly, they only suppress inflammation and do nothing to
reverse the underlying abnormal immune response which triggers the
asthmatic syndrome. Thus, there is a need for safe and effective treatments
for feline asthma. Stem cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)
from bone marrow or adipose tissues is showing tremendous promise for a
variety of diseases. Because the majority of stem cells injected into the
bloodstream actually end up in the lungs, the use of stem cells for
treating disorders of the lung shows promise. At least 4 studies in rodent
models of asthma published in the past year have shown that i.v. injection
of mesenchymal stems cells (MSC) can significantly reduce airway
inflammation and airway hyperreactivity. In addition, the collaborators on
this project at CSU have considerable prior experience with intravenous
injection of MSC for treatment of feline chronic kidney disease. This study
proposes to evaluate MSC therapy as a novel treatment for feline asthma.

*Pilot Study of Metformin for the Treatment of Feline Cancer $15,775 Jackie
Wypij, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), Assistant Professor; University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; MT 11-003*
Metformin is a safe, effective, and inexpensive oral drug used in people
with diabetes. The drug reduces cancer risk by nearly one-third and has
anti-cancer effects against human cancer cells. Although ineffective for
feline diabetes, metformin is well tolerated in cats. Cancer is a leading
cause of death and sickness in geriatric cats, and there are limited
effective treatments. Common tumors such as feline oral squamous cell
carcinoma (OSCC), lymphoma, and mammary carcinoma often lead to death
within just a few months. Human cancers with known or potential metformin
sensitivity (breast carcinoma, leukemia, head and neck SCC) are
biologically similar to common feline cancers (mammary carcinoma, lymphoma,
feline OSCC). Preliminary data demonstrates anti-cancer effects of
metformin in feline cell lines. These reasons establish metformin as a
promising candidate drug therapy for cats suffering from cancer. The
purpose of this clinical study is to determine the optimal dose, toxicity,
pharmacology, and potential efficacy of metformin therapy in pet cats with
cancer and to evaluate non-invasive biomarkers of metformin biologic
activity.

*Assessment of the Safety and Clinical Utility of a Cat Imaging Tube and
Oxygen Chamber $11,408.24 Alex zur Linden, BSc, DVM; Richard T. Stone, BS,
MS, PhD; Iowa State University; MT 11-005*
The purpose of this project is to assemble a device that will accommodate
an un-sedated cat for chest x-rays and/or a computed tomography (CT or CAT)
scan. The device will maintain a stable environment of temperature,
humidity and enriched oxygen, while removing carbon dioxide exhaled from
the patient. The device will contain equipment for the continuous
monitoring of the internal environment. A cat arriving at a veterinary
hospital with labored breathing (caused by heart disease, lung disease, or
other diseases of the chest) can be placed into the device immediately to
avoid restraint, as well as provide oxygen and a quiet environment. The
portability of the device will allow easy transport of the cat to radiology
for chest x-rays or a CT scan without removing the cat from the tube. This
lack of manual restraint during a severe respiratory crisis will improve
patient survival, as handling these cats can result in their death.
Efficient safe imaging should reduce patient suffering and guide the
appropriate next test or treatment. A similar tube with no built-in
monitoring equipment has already been designed and used for CT scans only
(VetMouseTrap™). However, this tube is a less durable design and can safely
house a cat for only a limited amount of time. The benefits of the proposed
tube are a decrease in the amount of physical contact with a patient,
allowing x-ray imaging without manual restraint, and providing a
well-controlled environment that can accommodate a cat for prolonged
periods of time.

*Effectiveness of Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) to Inhibit Feline
Coronavirus Replication $23,600 Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, PhD, Assistant
Professor; Eman Anis, BS, MS; Alfred Legendre, MS, DVM, Professor; Stephen
Kania, BS, MS, PhD; The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary
Medicine; MT 11-007*
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease in cats. The disease
results from widespread viral replication in affected animals and an
inadequate and harmful immune response to the virus. Currently, there is no
effective treatment for this disease. Though therapies aimed at improving
the immune response to this virus have shown some benefit, there is a need
for an additional therapy to specifically inhibit virus growth in order to
effect a successful treatment. Recently, RNA interference has been shown to
be useful for treating virus infections. This antiviral mechanism results
from the introduction of double stranded RNA into cells that specifically
target the virus and thus lead to its destruction. This strategy has been
used successfully experimentally to treat Severe Acute Respiratory Disease
(SARS), a virus that produces a disease similar to FIP in humans. In
addition, this strategy has been shown to be effective against a feline
virus, feline herpes virus. It is hoped that suppression of viral
infection, combined with a treatment to improve the immune response against
FIP, will provide a successful treatment, if not a cure, for FIP.

*Dexmedetomidine for Antinociception in Cats: a
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic Study. $13,414 Bruno H Pypendop, DVM,
DrVetSci, DACVA, Professor; Jan E Ilkiw, Bs, PhD, DECVA, Professor; School
of Veterinary Medicine University of California-Davis; MT 11-014*
Options to treat pain in cats include the use of opioids, non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, and agonists (chemicals which
cause activation) of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. The effects of the
latter drugs on pain have not been well characterized in cats. This study
proposes to determine the effects of an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist,
dexmedetomidine, on pain in cats. Researchers will study the relationship
between plasma concentration and analgesic effect, at the same time as they
will determine the disposition of the drug by the body. Knowledge of
this disposition and of the concentration-effect relationship will allow
the researchers to determine optimal dosage of dexmedetomidine for the
treatment of pain in clinical feline patients.

The Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1968
that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, the Winn Feline
Foundation has funded over $3 million in health research for cats at more
than 30 partner institutions world-wide. This funding is made possible
through the support of dedicated donors and partners. Research supported by
the Winn Feline Foundation helps veterinarians to improve treatment of
common feline health problems and prevent many diseases. Grants are awarded
twice yearly with the help of the foundation’s expert review panel. For
further information, go to www.winnfelinehealth.org