March 2022 Issue

Page 66 March 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Morris Animal Foundation, a leader in advancing animal health, recently announced the selection of five new equine health studies to receive funding in 2022. The studies focus on equine colic, an important and potentially life-threatening dis- ease of horses. “Colic consistently ranks among the top health concerns of horse owners and veteri- narians,” said Dr. Janet Pat- terson-Kane, Chief Scientific Officer. “We decided to focus on this topic in this year’s equine call for proposals to advance our understanding of intestinal disease associated with colic and ultimately assist in improving outcomes for horses around the world.” Estimates suggest that 4% - 10% of horses will experience colic at least once in their life- times, and the actual incidence may be even higher. Although the majority of horses can be successfully treated on the farm, approximately 10% require refer- ral for advanced care, including surgery. The Foundation’s Large An- imal 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 for horses with colic. Equine colic studies funded for 2022 include: Studying Intestinal Inflammation Two research teams will take different approaches to inves- tigate the interaction between inflammation and gut motility, to assist in developing methods of preventing ileus (reduced gut motility) after colic surgery. These approaches could dramati- cally assist recovery and shorten hospitalization times. Understanding Risk Factors for Colic Secondary to Transportation Researchers will look for colic risk factors associated with transportation to develop better management recommendations for horses requiring transport. Helping Underserved Communities Recognize Early Signs of Colic Researchers will develop an educational program for horse owners in underserved communi- ties in Colombia to improve early recognition of colic, a key com- ponent of successful treatment. New Prognostic Test for Postoperative Complications Researchers will search for biomarkers to identify horses at higher risk for postoperative surgical complications as a first step toward a new prognostic test. Morris Animal Foundation Funds 2022 Colic Studies