The funding comes during the final cycle of a four-year Nexus Animal and Human Health initiative to incentivize research that affects human and animal health and benefits all citizens and the economy.
Meyer’s grant supports her study of using nitrofurantoin as an effective antibiotic to reduce canine drug resistance. Nitrofurantoin is a first-line treatment for some bacterial infections in humans. A different antibiotic is often used to treat dogs with urinary tract infections despite global concerns of canines developing a resistance to the drug.
The study will analyze dogs’ plasma and urine after administering nitrofurantoin in order to accurately determine and create appropriate dosing guideline for veterinarians treating urinary tract infections in dogs.
Meyer said her project will address a major public health concern of antimicrobial resistance. It will provide an evidence-driven therapeutic alternative for animals that can reduce the use of critically important antimicrobial drugs.
“This means that animals still have effective drug options without contributing unnecessarily to antimicrobial resistance,” Meyer said.
Story by: Kelly Edwards
Originally published: 14 January 2021
