HEALTH AND RESEARCH

At this time there are, to the best of our knowledge, two major health and research groups within the lama community. They are the well-known Lama Medical Research Group (LMRG) chaired by Art Kennel and the Alpaca Health & Research Committee (AHRC) which is a joint committee of the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI), and the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA).

In addition there are many other health and research committees within the lama communities that serve for a specific purpose. The autonomy of each of these groups have their own funding sources. Many of these groups have specific ties with a University or other organization, such as the Morris Animal Foundation. These groups all serve a valuable function.

We have been fortunate to have in place good communication between the LMRG and AHRC. This can serve as a model of cooperation and cooperative funding within the lama community. An other example of which we are aware, is the manner in which the ILA Health Committee has worked with affiliates and other organizations to co-fund projects such as the "Rabies Study" at Auburn University after the incident in 1995, when Dr. David Pugh was bitten by a rabid llama. There are many other examples, but the point is that there needs to be more of this cooperation which can only result if there is increased communication between the various groups so that unnecessary duplication is avoided and that there is efficient and responsible use of resources. In addition, there must be a greater effort to disseminate information and educate.

Somehow we need to have a central information point "clearing house" where groups could inquire about possible redundancy, worth, etc., of a project or whatever they may be considering funding. These could be submitted to either the LMRG or the AHRC. If the expertise within either of these groups was insufficient, members of those groups would likely know individuals with the appropriate expertise to which the request for input could be directed.

There are ways that the Morris Animal Foundation would also be involved in such activities. Probably the simplest would be to place articles or notices to this effect in all of the lama trade journals (not unlike what was done with the Minute Chromosome project). This is assuming, of course, that both the LMRG and the AHRC would be willing to serve in this capacity.

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