December 15, 2021

AVMA announces members’ annual meeting for 2022

The 2022 annual meeting of AVMA voting members will be held at 9 a.m. CST on Jan. 7, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 N. Michigan Ave. As determined by the AVMA Board of Directors, the meeting will be held in conjunction with the regular winter session of the AVMA House of Delegates, during the plenary session of the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference.

The meeting will include reports from the treasurer and AVMA staff, a message from the president, speeches by candidates for president-elect and vice president, and other information as determined by the House Advisory Committee.

New Michigan center to study infectious diseases

The University of Michigan’s Biosciences Initiative is awarding $13.8 million over five years to the university’s new Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats.

Announced in October, the center will bring together UM researchers from various fields to work across disciplines on issues key to infectious disease preparedness and response, including developing the public health workforce, increasing laboratory capacity, and adding testing of zoonotic pathogens.

Overseeing the center is Aubree Gordon, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at UM’s School of Public Health. “The overall objective of the center is to connect researchers here on campus and better prepare the University of Michigan both locally and globally for pandemic preparedness and response, to create a community here on campus revolving around infectious disease,” Dr. Gordon said in a statement.

The university has “exceptionally strong programs” in many areas, such as virology, immunology, and bioengineering, required to make it a leader in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, Dr. Gordon said.

Until now, there was no structure to align these efforts, added Roger Cone, PhD, director of the Biosciences Initiative. He said, “The (center) is a great example of what the initiative was designed to do: Bring together scientists across the breadth of UM to address critical emerging problems in the life sciences.”

AKC Canine Health Foundation awards $375,000 for epilepsy research

The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation announced Nov. 1 that it has awarded $375,000 in grants for research on epilepsy in dogs.

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disease in dogs. It is estimated that 30% of affected dogs continue to have seizures despite appropriate treatment, and many experience adverse effects from anti-seizure medications. To improve quality of life for affected dogs and their owners, the AKC Canine Health Foundation and its donors have invested more than $2.8 million since 1995 to study epilepsy in dogs.

The following research grants were newly awarded in 2021:

• “Investigating neuronal network connectivity in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy using functional magnetic resonance imaging,” Dr. Karen R. Muñana, North Carolina State University.
• “Validating genetic variants underlying canine idiopathic epilepsy and exploring their functional roles in the Belgian Sheepdog and Tervuren”; Anita M. Oberbauer, PhD; University of California-Davis.
• “Assessment of frequency of seizures and antiseizure drug (ASD) efficacy by electroencephalography (EEG) for dogs with epilepsy,” Dr. Fiona James, University of Guelph.
• “A dose finding study of cannabidiol in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy,” Dr. Stephanie McGrath, Colorado State University.

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