2017-- Since MCBFA is no longer an active organization. the acting Executive Committee is following the guidelines of the constitution regarding the treasury. Article 5 states: (funds) “shall be distributed by the Executive Council for one or more feline health charities....” With this in mind, the acting Executive Committee has voted to donate $15,000 towards the research that Joshua Stern, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (cardiology) of UC Davis Veterinary School is doing to identify a second gene that causes HCM in Maine Coons. This is very important research and we feel it is the best use of the funds in our treasury. We donated $19,000 to the research that Dr. Meurs did to identify the first HCM gene so this is a fitting donation towards identifying the second gene.
2005-- There
has been a breakthrough in the research on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). A gene has been identified and a genetic test has been developed for the cMyBP-C (cardiac myosin binding protein C) mutation causing HCM in Maine Coons. Information about HCM and instructions to order the test kit can be found at Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Lab.
MCBFA has helped to support this important research by donating $19,000.00.
Updated Breeders Guidelines for HCM Screening can be found through this link.
Additional information about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy can be found in an article from UC Davis First Gene Mutation to Cause Heart Disease in Cats Identified and also on MCBFA's Health Information link.