Selina wrote on 7/15/2006, 12:39 PM: >I'm somewhat stunned this morning to read a message on the FML from >Joanne at Support Our Shelters (SOS) stating that University of >Georgia will no longer be doing any ADV research. it is especially >disappointing coming after Danee's vision of an ADV vaccine in 4 years, >and the efforts at International Ferret Congress (IFC) Ferret Aid to >raise money (at least $1500 as far as I know) for ADV research. Selina and others, I am in the process of trying to get to the bottom of this. I think that there may have been a miscommunication between Joanne and Kate, or whoever was involved. Kate emailed me right before the Toronto Symposium, to say she was leaving UGA to attend vet school in Michigan. This was good news for her, and she had been trying to get into vet school for several years at UGA. UGA is one of the top schools for veterinary medicine, and only admits a small number students each year into their program. Kate had a lower GPA for her undergraduate work then they will normally consider, and so she had worked on a Masters degree at UGA, to try and prove herself. However, it apparently was not enough. I personally feel it is a shame they did not accept her, as I think she has proved her dedication and desire to become a vet, and I think she will make an excellent vet when she finishes her work. But, UGA's loss is Michigan's gain. When Kate contacted me, she sent me a name for a contact for submitting tissue samples. I did not have time to act on the email before I left for Toronto, and before posting anything about it to the lists, I was trying to also get a new contact for submitting donations. Unfortunately, Dr. Ritchie, who heads the program there, is very hard to catch on the phone, and is also very slow at returning phone calls and emails. I interviewed Dr. Ritchie by phone in January for the article I wrote for Ferrets Magazine. At that time, he indicated the group was very eager to work on an ADV vaccine, and basically just needed the money to do it. He estimated that the amount needed to develop a vaccine was $240,000.00 total, or $60,000.00 a year for 4 years. My personal belief is that this has not changed. It is possible that the active research currently being worked on at UGA is with domestic skunks, because they still need to develop and prove that the tests they have for detecting ADV in skunks are completely reliable. But, I do not think they have completely abandoned their work on ADV in ferrets. It is very possible that donations sent for research on a ferret vaccine will simply be held until enough money is collected to go forward. So, before everyone gets upset, I would suggest waiting until Joanne, someone else, or I can verify the information. And, as a point of information, I am still holding the money that was collected in Toronto on the raffle of the afghan. Randy still has the money from the raffle of the necklace, as well. Also, please note - I am not saying Joanne is wrong, just that what she posted conflicts with the information I have. The best thing we can do right now is verify what the correct information is. -- Danee DeVore International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator http://www.ferretcongress.org ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com You can help fight ADV! Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/ [Posted in FML issue 5305]