March 24, 2026 — Morris Animal Foundation is funding four new studies focused on some of the most pressing health threats facing cats today. From an old foe, feline infectious peritonitis, to the growing threat of H5N1 avian influenza, each project targets a gap where cats currently have few good options — and where better science could significantly change outcomes.
What health problems are these studies addressing?
The four newly funded studies address:
- A newly identified coronavirus mutation linked to FIP outbreaks
- Improved diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma in cats
- A potential antibody treatment for H5N1 avian influenza in cats
- How mineral imbalances drive kidney disease progression
Each was selected through the Foundation's competitive peer-review process.
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS: INVESTIGATING A NEW VIRAL THREAT
Study: Investigating Viral Mutations Associated with a New Form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Investigator: Gary Whittaker, BSc, PhD — Cornell University
What is FIP, and why does this study matter?
Feline infectious peritonitis is one of the most serious infectious diseases affecting cats. Most FIP cases develop when feline coronavirus type 1 (FCoV-1) mutates within an infected cat. But a recent outbreak of FIP in Cyprus — and cases now appearing more broadly — has been caused by a distinct type 2 coronavirus (FCoV-2) that originated in dogs. FCoV-2 is less common, but it may spread more easily and has a high impact when it does.
What will researchers do?
This research team has previously identified specific mutations in the activation site of FCoV-1 that are linked to the development of FIP. The activation site is where proteases — enzymes that make targeted cuts in proteins — switch the virus into an infectious state. This study will apply that same approach to FCoV-2, identifying whether similar mutations drive FIP in these type 2 cases.
Why it matters beyond cats
Coronaviruses that jump between species and then mutate to cause severe disease are a recognized public health concern. Understanding the mechanisms behind FCoV-2's behavior could carry implications for how researchers anticipate and respond to future coronavirus outbreaks in both animals and people.
GASTROINTESTINAL LYMPHOMA: MAPPING CANCER TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSIS
Study: Using New Technology to Improve Diagnosis of Lymphoma in Cats
Investigator: Rebecca Nance-Richey, PhD — University of Florida
What is feline GI lymphoma?
Gastrointestinal lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in cats, affecting the stomach and intestine, tissues dense with immune cells. It causes chronic weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea, and it is a leading cause of death. Current diagnostic tools often miss the disease until it has progressed, and treatment options remain limited.
What will researchers do?
Researchers will use spatial transcriptomics, a technology that measures which genes are active in different areas of a tissue sample while preserving the tissue's physical structure. Rather than viewing cells in isolation under a microscope, this approach produces a detailed map of how cancer cells interact with surrounding immune and support cells.
By comparing gene activity maps from healthy cats with those from cats diagnosed with lymphoma, the team will identify how the disease alters normal tissue, how it may evade immune detection, and which biological pathways might be targeted for new therapies. The team has already collected and validated samples from cats with and without lymphoma. With this funding, they will expand the study and build the first comprehensive reference atlas of feline intestinal lymphoma.
Why it matters beyond cats
Cats develop lymphomas that share biological features with certain human cancers. The team will make all data and methods publicly available, positioning this work to accelerate research across both veterinary and human medicine.
H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA: DEVELOPING A TARGETED TREATMENT FOR CATS
Study: Developing a Treatment for H5N1 Avian Influenza in Cats
Investigator: Stephanie Mack, PhD — Celdara Medical
Why is H5N1 a threat to cats?
H5N1 avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds, but it can infect mammals — including domestic and wild cats. Mortality rates in infected cats can reach 70%. Cats can be exposed through contact with infected birds, raw food, or contaminated environments, and exposure risk has grown alongside the virus's spread in North American wildlife and poultry populations. No approved treatments currently exist. Supportive care and off-label antivirals offer limited effectiveness and come with potential risks.
What will researchers do?
The research team will develop CM-PW4, a monoclonal antibody designed specifically to treat H5N1 in cats. The antibody is based on CM-PW3, a human antibody the team previously developed to fight influenza in people. To make it safe and effective for cats, researchers will engineer a feline-compatible version that combines the virus-targeting component of CM-PW3 with elements of the feline immune system.
The team will produce CM-PW4 in the laboratory, then assess its purity, stability, and ability to bind the H5N1 virus. They will test its effectiveness in feline cells infected with the virus, measure how well it blocks infection, and evaluate whether it can survive long enough in feline serum to provide meaningful protection.
Why it matters beyond cats
A successful treatment for H5N1 in cats could reduce the risk of the virus spreading between animals and, potentially, to humans — making this research relevant to broader public health efforts around influenza preparedness.
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: UNDERSTANDING HOW MINERAL IMBALANCES DRIVE DAMAGE
Study: Learning How Mineral Imbalances Influence Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
Investigator: Pak Kan Tang, BSc, BVetMed, PhD — Royal Veterinary College, UK
How common is CKD in cats?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most widespread health conditions in older cats. Up to 80% of cats older than 15 are affected, and it is a leading cause of death in the feline population. Despite its prevalence, significant gaps remain in understanding how the disease progresses — and how to slow it.
What will researchers do?
In humans with CKD, imbalances in calcium and phosphorus — two minerals essential for bone formation — can lead to a condition called CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). This condition causes hardening of the blood vessels, weakened bones, and further kidney damage, and it is known to shorten life expectancy in human patients.
Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus balance are recognized in cats with CKD, but whether these imbalances lead to the same vessel and bone complications seen in humans has not been studied. The RVC team will investigate this directly — measuring blood markers, examining bone and blood vessel tissue using advanced imaging and microscopic techniques, and tracking how these changes relate to kidney disease progression over time.
The goal is to determine whether cats develop CKD-MBD in a manner similar to humans, identify early markers of these complications, and evaluate how they affect health and survival.
Why it matters beyond cats
Because CKD-MBD is well studied in humans, research that establishes whether cats follow a similar disease pathway could open the door to applying existing human treatments or diagnostics to feline patients — accelerating progress in both directions.
WHY MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION (WITH THE HELP OF DONORS LIKE YOU!) FUNDS FELINE HEALTH RESEARCH
Cats are the most underrepresented companion animals in veterinary research relative to their population. Morris Animal Foundation has worked to close that gap for decades, funding studies that address the diseases most likely to affect cats throughout their lives — from kittens to our senior sweethearts.
A gift to Morris Animal Foundation today helps ensure that the next generation of feline health research gets funded, that veterinarians have better tools, and that cats live longer, healthier lives alongside the people who love them.
