Faculty Research and Program Support

Faculty Research and Program Support

Faculty research pictureThe CCAH provides grant funding on a competitive basis to faculty for studies dedicated to advancing the health of dogs, cats and exotic pets. For over 30 years the CCAH has been supporting these efforts, and has awarded more than $24 million. In 2024-2025, the CCAH provided $1,592,035 in faculty research support.

 

 

FACULTY GRANTS FUNDED

CCAH awarded faculty grants for 2024-2025 include:

Dog Research Studies

Ensuring the safe deployment of AI diagnostics at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Keller) 

Targeting RUNX2 expression in canine osteosarcoma to enhance chemosensitivity (Wittenburg) 

Evaluation of Perianal Minimally Invasive Surgery (PAMIS) approach for sacral lymphadenectomy (Delisser) 

Olfactomedin-like 3 in Canine Glioma (Toedebusch) 

Determining the natural disease progression of canine high-grade glioma: A pilot study  (Toedebusch) 

The role of the active transposable element LINE-1 in the development of canine osteosarcoma (Bannasch) 

Development and validation of a novel mandibular reconstruction device for large-breed dogs (Arzi) 

Measuring antibiotic resistance in dogs given tetracycline antibiotics for autoimmune skin disease (Jordan) 

Evaluation of a novel biologic therapeutic for canine bacterial otitis externa (LeCuyer) 

Utilizing canine intestinal organoids to investigate the role of dysbiosis in fading puppy syndrome (Kol) 

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales point prevalence survey (LeCuyer) 

Development of an ELISA panel to diagnose paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia in dogs (Brostoff) 

Cerebral hypometabolism assessed with positron emission tomography in dogs with epilepsy (Dupanloup) 

Development of a high-fidelity canine neurology simulator for veterinary student teaching (Hoehne) 

Modeling canine Lafora disease using gene-edited iPSC-derived cortical organoids (Kol) 

Accuracy of a novel 3D-printed semi-custom stereotaxic brain biopsy device (Dupanloup) 

Randomized double-blind crossover trial of vagus nerve stimulation in large-breed dogs with epilepsy (Dupanloup)

 Cartilage aging in large-breed dogs (Vapniarsky Arzi)

Biomechanical analysis of rigid and semi-rigid pedicle screw-rod fixation systems for the stabilization of the canine lumbosacral joint (Lim)

Amino acid losses in dogs with acute kidney injury treated with renal replacement therapy (Dufayet)

Cat Research Studies

AI-powered outcome prediction for chronic enteropathy in aging cats (Keller)

Artificial intelligence for radiographic detection of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Pandit)

Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells mitochondrial transfer and CD8⁺ T cell metabolic reprogramming in cats (Kol)

Advancing the understanding and management of primary congenital hypothyroidism in kittens (Vernau)

Feline Haws Syndrome as a spontaneous model for evaluation of the gut-brain axis: a comprehensive microbiome and metabolomic study (Weimer)

Evaluating the role of antimicrobial-induced intestinal dysbiosis in chronic enteropathy in cats (Savage)

Feline leukocyte preservation and phenotyping study (Vapniarsky Arzi)

Safety and immunogenicity of an mRNA vaccine for feline infectious peritonitis in cats (Brostoff)

Skull-base microsurgery targeting bacterial reservoirs in feline vestibular otitis media-interna (Dupanloup)

Companion Animal Research Studies

Optimizing 18F-NaF PET imaging for atherosclerosis diagnosis in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Beaufrere)

Generation of molecular methods for the detection of fancy tailed guppy virus (FTHV) (Soto-Martinez)

Pharmacokinetics and safety of grapiprant in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) (Guzman)

Development of an avian flight database to inform rehabilitation practices in birds of prey (Hawkins)

Role of inflammation-mediating cyclooxygenase pathway in embryonic development (Rogers)

  • Safety and efficacy of a STAT3-targeted cyclic oligonucleotide: From murine models to a phase 1 clinical trial in pet cats with oral cancer
  • Grandis JR, Skorupski KA, Cheng N, Cui Z, Li H, Woerner LC, Gencel-Augusto J, Zeng Y, Shiah JV, Bhola NE, Sen M, Blum K, Kim M, York D, Rebhun RB, Chang H, Murad NF, Olshen AB, Sparger EE, Johnson DE

    The goal of this study was to test a new kind of medicine designed to block a cancer‑promoting protein called STAT3. Because STAT3 helps tumors grow and also weakens the immune system's ability to fight cancer, shutting it down could be very helpful, but it's been very hard to target with drugs. Researchers created a new, more stable version of a STAT3‑blocking molecule, called a cyclic STAT3 decoy (CS3D), and wanted to find out: Does this new drug shrink tumors and improve the immune response in mouse models of head and neck cancer? Is it safe and effective in real-world animals (pet cats) that naturally develop the same type of cancer? Are there immune system differences between animals that respond well to the drug and those that don’t? The results showed that some animals did respond, and these responders had meaningful immune changes in their blood and tumors, supporting the idea that this drug should be tested next in human patients with head and neck cancer.
     
  • Fatty Acid Analysis and Stability of Selected Edible Oils Used in Homemade Pet Diets
  • Larsen JA, Stockman J, Li X, Wang SC

    This study aimed to evaluate the fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of commonly used edible oils intended for home‑prepared pet diets. Specifically, the objectives were to (1) compare measured fatty acid profiles with database values and (2) assess how recommended storage conditions affect oxidative quality over time. Fourteen oil products across seven oil types were purchased and stored per manufacturer instructions. Fatty acid profiles were analyzed at baseline and 12 months, while free fatty acidity, peroxide value, and induction time were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results showed that linoleic acid levels were generally higher than USDA FNDDS values, except in several sunflower and safflower oils. Most oils demonstrated significant oxidative degradation over time, with increased peroxide values and reduced induction times. The findings suggest that sunflower and safflower oils may be unreliable sources of linoleic acid, and that cold storage more effectively preserves oil quality. Careful oil selection and refrigeration are recommended to ensure nutritional adequacy and prevent oxidation in home‑prepared pet diets.
  • Ocular tolerance and tear film pharmacokinetics of 1% penciclovir cream in cats
  • Pe'er O, Thomasy SM, Feuer E, Knych HK, Ofri R, Sebbag L
    This study aimed to assess the ocular tolerance and tear‑film pharmacokinetics of a 1% penciclovir cream (Fenlips®), a dermatologic formulation repurposed for topical treatment of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV‑1) ocular disease. Owner surveys indicated strong clinical acceptance, with most reporting no adverse effects and rating the treatment as effective. To further evaluate safety, a 10‑day prospective study in healthy cats compared Fenlips® with artificial tears and found no significant differences in ocular surface parameters, aside from a mild increase in corneal sensitivity in treated eyes. A second prospective study demonstrated that penciclovir concentrations in the tear film remained above the inhibitory threshold for FHV‑1 for over 8 hours, with an extended terminal half‑life. Overall, Fenlips® was well tolerated and achieved therapeutically relevant tear‑film levels, supporting its potential use as a twice‑daily topical antiviral therapy for herpetic keratoconjunctivitis in cats.

2024-2025 CCAH published donor funded studies:

Aging

A non-randomized pilot study to test the feasibility of developing a frailty scale for pet cats
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
(February 2025)
Colleran EJ, Delgado MM, Ren Y, German AJ, Gruen ME, Gunn-Moore DA, Romanowski K, Simpson W, Kirnos C, Ternes KK, Karnia J, Temples M, Taylor SL, Bain M, Buffington CAT

Anesthesia

Increasing plasma ketamine concentrations decrease the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in rabbits
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
(June 2025)
Barter LS, Pypendop BH

Target-controlled infusions of butorphanol worsen hemodynamics in isoflurane-anesthetized cats
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
(June 2025)
Pypendop BH, Cenani A, Machado ML, Barter LS

Ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve approach at the level of the terygopalatine fossa in cat cadavers
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 
(November-December 2024)
Fernandez Barrientos MA, Cenani A, Brown CS, Arzi B, Wolfs E, Pypendop BH

Cancer

Artificial intelligence-based quantification of lymphocytes in feline small intestinal biopsies
Veterinary Pathology
(March 2025)
Wulcan JM, Giaretta PR, Fingerhood S, de Brot S, Crouch EEV, Wolf T, Casanova MI, Ruivo PR, Bolfa P, Streitenberger N, Bertram CA, Donovan TA, Keel MK, Moore PF, Keller SM

Safety and efficacy of a STAT3-targeted cyclic oligonucleotide: From murine models to a phase 1 clinical trial in pet cats with oral cancer
Cancer Cell
(August 2025)
Grandis JR, Skorupski KA, Cheng N, Cui Z, Li H, Woerner LC, Gencel-Augusto J, Zeng Y, Shiah JV, Bhola NE, Sen M, Blum K, Kim MO, York D, Rebhun RB, Chang H, Murad NF, Olshen AB, Sparger EE, Johnson DE

Do pre-treatment biopsy characteristics predict early tumour progression in feline diffuse large B cell nasal lymphoma treated with radiotherapy?
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology
(March 2025)
Poirier VJ, Meier V, Turek M, Christensen N, Bowal J, Ponzini MD, Keller SM

Effect of glyceryl trinitrate and clevidipine administration on CT angiogram findings in dogs undergoing prostatic artery embolization for prostatic carcinoma
PLOS ONE
(December 2024)
Veluvolu S, Willcox JL, Skorupski KA, Al-Nadaf S, Rebhun R, Wittenburg L

Dentistry

Preliminary characterisation of immune cell populations in the oral mucosa of a small cohort of healthy dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia
(November 2024)
Soltero-Rivera M, Bailey M, Blandino A, Arzi B, Vapniarsky N

Impact of pro-inflammatory cytokine preconditioning on metabolism and extracellular vesicles in feline mesenchymal stromal cells: a preliminary study
Stem Cells
(June 2025)
Soltero-Rivera M, Arzi B, Bourebaba L, Marycz K

Infectious Disease

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell therapy improves immune recovery in a feline model of severe coronavirus infection
Stem Cells Translational Medicine
(June 2025)
Wanakumjorn P, Kimura K, Castillo D, McLarty E, Formaker R, Qiao R, Farrell K, Brostoff T, Ramarapu R, Pires J, Cohen-Davidyan T, Cassano J, Murphy B, Reagan K, Kol A

The nucleoside analog GS-441524 effectively attenuates the In vitro replication of multiple lineages of circulating canine distemper viruses isolated from wild North American carnivores
Viruses
(January 2025)
Oliver-Guimera A, Murphy BG, Keel MK

Doxycycline with or without famciclovir for infectious ophthalmic and respiratory disease: a prospective, randomized, masked, placebo-controlled trial in 373 kittens
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
(November 2024)
Vernau KM, Kim S, Thomasy SM, Lucyshyn DR, Purpura J, Montgomery E, Surmick JD, Dubelko AR, Moussavi A, Kass PH, Maggs DJ

Open label clinical trial of orally administered molnupiravir as a first-line treatment for naturally occurring effusive feline infectious peritonitis
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(November-December 2024)
Reagan KL, Brostoff T, Pires J, Rose A, Castillo D, Murphy BG

Immunology

Single cell RNA-sequencing of feline peripheral immune cells with V(D)J repertoire and cross species analysis of T lymphocytes
Frontiers in Immunology
(November 2024)
Ramarapu R, Wulcan JM, Chang H, Moore PF, Vernau W, Keller SM

Internal Medicine

Trace element content is associated with urolith type in goats and pigs diagnosed with urolithiasis
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(April 2025)
Chigerwe M, Killilea DW, Hardgrove CN, Mann U, Stoller ML, Westropp JL

Effects of plasma and hetastarch administration on colloid oncotic pressure and coagulation parameters in dairy calves and goats
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(May-June 2025)
Cuneo SW, Abi-Nader BA, Blasczynski SJ, Chigerwe M

Nutrition

Fatty acid analysis and stability of selected edible oils used in homemade pet diets
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(May 2025)
Larsen JA, Stockman J, Li X, Wang SC

Diurnal variation of serum phosphorus concentrations in intact male adult domestic cats
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
(November-December 2024)
Chiang CF, Vanderstichel R, Stockman J, Larsen JA, Fascetti AJ

Ophthalmology

Ocular tolerance and tear film pharmacokinetics of 1 % penciclovir cream in cats 
Research in Veterinary Science
(September 2025)
Pe'er O, Thomasy SM, Feuer E, Knych HK, Ofri R, Sebbag L

Pain

Pharmacokinetics of single-dose oral acetaminophen with and without concurrent administration of silymarin or N-acetylcysteine in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica)
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(March 2025)
Megan L, Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Knych H, Beaufrère HH

Surgery / Orthopedics

Subclinical gastrointestinal mucosal lesions occur in dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts independent of percutaneous transvenous coil embolization
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 
(February 2025)
Gibson EA, Culp WTN, Hardy BT, Giuffrida MA, Balsa IM, Mayhew P, Marks SL

Radiographs acquired before total hip replacement in dogs underestimate femoral canal flare and misjudge trochanteric overhang
American Journal of Veterinary Research
(April 2025)
Bae S, Marcellin-Little DJ, Pritikin R, Garcia TC

Patient-specific 3D-printed nasopharyngeal stents in dogs: a cadaveric pilot study
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
(November 2024)
Sutter C, Hardy B, Lucero S, Johnson L, Culp W

Prior Publications