Press Release-Vaccine-Associated Feline Fibrosarcoma Task Force

April 23, 2002

he Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force met on April 7 to award grants to research proposals. The VAFSTF decided to fund two highly rated proposals: Lymphoid Aggregates in Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas, Principal investigator, Ronald D. Schultz, MS, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Molecular Fingerprint Mapping of Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Evolution, Principal investigator, V. S. Venkatraj, BVSc, PhD, FACMG, Texas A&M. With these grants, the VAFSTF has funded over $750,000 of research since its inception. This is possible because of the generous contributions of various veterinary organizations, individuals and vaccine manufacturers. As of April 18, Novartis Animal Health and Schering-Plough Animal Health have contributed to the 2001-2002 studies. 

The VAFSTF agreed to continue its mission of research and education for a minimum of five more years. The VAFSTF is an alliance of the American Animal Hospital Association, American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, and Veterinary Cancer Society along with representatives from academia, industry, and USDA-APHIS. 


Dr. James R. Richards 
Director, Cornell Feline Health Center 
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine 
Ithaca, New York 14853 
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/FelineHealth.html