Barbaro Fund continues support of laminitis research
project
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) subsidiary, NTRA
Charities, announced Wednesday that the Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and
Safety Research has disbursed $49,000 to support the second year of a research
project on laminitis.
The funds from the Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research will
support “In Vivo Gene Transfer for the Treatment of Laminitis,” by Dr. Dean
Richardson at the University of Pennsylvania. The project seeks to develop a
gene therapy approach to prevent laminitis in the contralateral hoof when a
horse is being treated for a musculoskeletal injury.
The balance of the “In Vivo Gene Transfer for the Treatment of Laminitis”
project costs in 2011 — $14,924 — will be funded by the Grayson-Jockey Club
Research Foundation. The Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research also
supported this project in 2010 through the Grayson-Jockey Club Research
Foundation.
“We are proud to continue our support of this important laminitis project,
which has already come up with some promising preliminary data,” said NTRA
President and CEO Alex Waldrop, who is also the president of NTRA Charities. “We
thank Pfizer Animal Health for its continued strong support of the Barbaro Fund
for Equine Health and Safety Research. Pfizer’s generosity — along with the
contributions of so many of Barbaro’s fans — have kept Barbaro’s memory alive
in this very constructive way.”
Since Barbaro’s passing, hundreds of his fans have given to his legacy fund.
In 2008, Pfizer Animal Health teamed up with the NTRA to generate funding for
laminitis and equine safety research. Thanks to these efforts, the Barbaro Fund
for Equine Health and Safety Research has disbursed nearly $400,000 in support
of conferences, research programs and several research projects — virtually all
focused on finding a cure for laminitis, the painful and often fatal hoof
disease that plagued Barbaro for much of his recuperative period following his
injury in the 2006 Preakness S. (G1).
Formed as a subsidiary of the NTRA in 1999, NTRA Charities is a nonprofit,
501 (c) (3) public charity whose mission is to promote and support charities in
or related to the Thoroughbred industry. For more information contact Peggy
Hendershot, NTRA Charities executive director, at 800-792-6872 or visit
NTRACharities.org.