[July 8, 2010; Philadelphia, PA] – Ralph Meyer, assistant professor of Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded a Michelson Grant in Reproductive Biology. The approximately $570,000 grant, awarded by Found Animals, allows Dr. Meyer to continue his research over the next three years to develop a non-surgical sterilant/technology for use in both male and female cats and dogs.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this opportunity,” said Dr. Meyer. “It is well known that over-population in our shelters is a problem that often ends with euthanizing dogs and cats that need homes. It is my hope – as well as the hope of Found Animals – to find a non-surgical, safe and effective sterilization method for animals that is cost-effective and widely available to help put a stop to our pet over-population problem. I look forward to the challenge and am honored to be chosen as a grant recipient.”

To date, Found Animals has received 107 letters of intent since January 2009 and thirty-three full grant proposals have been invited and reviewed. Seven of those have been recommended for funding for a total potential of $3.5 million. Of those, three such grants have been awarded to researchers across the country, totaling $1.5 million and another four are under negotiation.

“We’re ecstatic to include Dr. Meyer as a Michelson Grant recipient,” said Aimee Gilbreath, executive director, Found Animals Foundation. “This grant will fund innovative research that could be game-changing and makes Meyer an excellent candidate for the $25 million Michelson Prize, awarded to the first entity to prove the Foundation with a safe, effective and practical non-surgical sterilant for use in cats and dogs. We welcome him to the challenge.”

About Found Animals

Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org) is a privately funded Los Angeles-based nonprofit 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/neuter clinics. The organization also sponsors and promotes pet adoption, spay/neuter, microchip programs and various animal and pet-related events.