LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Found Animals Foundation, a Los Angeles-based non-profit dedicated to reducing the euthanasia of pets in shelters, is announcing the Michelson Graduate Student Challenge, an initiative offering graduate students across the United States $15,000 awards for the top scientific proposals dedicated to the development of a permanent, non-surgical sterilant for dogs and cats. This challenge is part of an innovative experiment in solving the problem of shelter euthanasia.
On April 12, 2012, Found Animals will present one $15,000 award for the best proposed approach for permanent contraception of dogs and cats in each of the following categories:
- gene silencing
- innovative application of an engineering/materials science
- development of an innovative depot formulation for lifetime delivery of contraceptive compounds
The Michelson Graduate Student Challenge is an extension of the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology program that Found Animals launched in 2008. The program is named after Found Animals' creator Dr. Gary Michelson, a billionaire orthopedic spinal surgeon. The $25 million Michelson Prize will be awarded to the first entity to provide to the Foundation a single dose, permanent, non-surgical sterilant for cats and dogs, and up to $50 million is available in multiple, multi-year Michelson Grants for research in pursuit of this goal. To date, 15 Michelson Grants have been approved totaling more than $6 million in research funding.
The goal of the Michelson Graduate Student Challenge is to raise awareness in the scientific graduate student community about the need for a non-surgical method of cat and dog reproductive control to reduce shelter euthanasia. Currently 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year in US shelters, and animal welfare experts have long recognized sterilization as a key solution in the fight against pet overpopulation. Though surgical spay and neuter procedures are safe and effective, they require trained veterinary surgeons, general anesthesia and an adequately equipped surgical facility. These components have obstacles of high costs, need for transportation of animals and inherent health risks involved with any surgery. A single dose, non-surgical sterilant that could be administered in the field at a reasonable cost would be an ideal solution, and would save lives and end suffering for millions of companion animals worldwide.
"By offering graduate students this type of incentive, we are giving them a chance to apply what they have learned throughout their education to a major issue that is in dire need of a solution," said Aimee Gilbreath, Executive Director of Found Animals. "Through the Michelson Graduate Student Challenge, we are encouraging the best and the brightest young scientific minds to take up the challenge- the more people working on this, the better."
In order to be eligible for the Michelson Graduate Student Challenge, applicants must be enrolled in the 2011-2012 academic year in an accredited graduate school in the United States in a scientific, engineering, materials science, or related discipline. Michelson Graduate Student Challenge applications are reviewed by Found Animals Foundation staff and their scientific advisors.
The winners of the three Michelson Graduate Student Challenge awards may apply for grant funding for proposed research through the Michelson Grants in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Applicants will be eligible to make a claim for the $25 million Michelson Prize in the event that their research generates a product or technology that meets all of the Prize criteria.
"We currently fund top scientists throughout the world working towards finding a non-surgical sterilant," said Shirley Johnston, D.V.M., Ph.D., a leading expert on animal reproduction and a respected veterinarian, who serves as Director of Scientific Research for Found Animals and oversees the Michelson Prize & Grants. "We are both curious and excited to see the perspective that these graduate students bring to the table."
For more information, visit http://michelson.foundanimals.org/graduate-student-challenge.
Jumana Bississo
PR Coordinator
(T) 310-574-5792
About Found Animals
Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org) is a privately funded Los Angeles-based non-profit organization dedicated to animal welfare issues and led by business and medical professionals. The Found Animals team works directly within the animal welfare community to improve animal shelter processes, fund pet sterilization research, promote effective animal welfare policy, and provide funding to area shelters and spay/neutering clinics. The organization also sponsors and promotes pet adoption, spay/neutering, micro-chipping programs, and various animal and pet-related events.
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