Twenty Years of Hope: The Bria Fund’s Transformative Impact on Feline Infectious Peritonitis Research

November 18, 2025, marks a profound milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Bria Fund for FIP Research, a beacon of hope ignited by profound personal loss and unwavering dedication. Founded by Susan Gingrich, this specialized fund, operating under the umbrella of the Winn Feline Foundation (now EveryCat Health Foundation), has irrevocably altered the landscape of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), transforming a once universally fatal diagnosis into a manageable, and often curable, condition for countless cats worldwide. The journey, spanning two decades, reflects an extraordinary confluence of grassroots activism, scientific collaboration, and relentless advocacy, driven by the memory of a beloved Birman named Brianna Jamie.

The Devastating Shadow of FIP: A Historical Perspective

Before the advent of dedicated research efforts like those championed by the Bria Fund, Feline Infectious Peritonitis stood as one of the most dreaded diseases in veterinary medicine. Caused by a mutation of the feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), FIP is a complex and highly aggressive illness that affects domestic cats globally. While FECV itself is common and typically causes mild or asymptomatic gastrointestinal issues, its transformation into the FIP virus leads to a systemic inflammatory response, often manifesting in two primary forms: "wet" (effusive) FIP, characterized by fluid accumulation in body cavities, and "dry" (non-effusive) FIP, which primarily affects organs like the kidneys, liver, brain, and eyes.

For decades, an FIP diagnosis was a death sentence. Symptoms, ranging from lethargy, anorexia, and fever to distended abdomen, neurological signs, or ocular lesions, were often vague, making early and definitive diagnosis challenging. Furthermore, the diagnostic tools available were limited, often relying on presumptive evidence rather than confirmatory tests. Once diagnosed, the prognosis was universally grim, with most affected cats succumbing to the disease within weeks or months. Veterinary professionals were often left with little more than palliative care to offer, and pet owners faced the heart-wrenching reality of watching their beloved companions deteriorate without any effective treatment options. This profound lack of solutions created a pervasive sense of helplessness within the feline community, both among veterinarians and cat guardians.

The Genesis of a Movement: Brianna Jamie’s Legacy

It was against this bleak backdrop that the Bria Fund was born. On April 19, 2005, Susan Gingrich and her husband, Jim Shurskis, endured the traumatic experience of saying goodbye to their cherished nine-month-old Birman, Brianna Jamie, affectionately known as Bria. Bria had been diagnosed with wet FIP, a diagnosis that, at the time, offered no hope. Despite the overwhelming despair, Bria’s feisty spirit allowed her to defy the immediate prognosis, living for an additional four months. This period of unexpected grace, coupled with the profound emotional toll of her illness, cemented a promise in Susan’s heart: Bria’s short life would not be forgotten; it would serve a greater purpose.

This deeply personal tragedy became the catalyst for a monumental undertaking. Driven by a desire to spare other families the anguish they had endured, Susan Gingrich channeled her grief into action. She recognized the urgent need for dedicated research into FIP, understanding that only scientific inquiry could unlock the secrets of this insidious disease and lead to effective interventions. Her resolve to transform sorrow into tangible progress laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most impactful initiatives in feline health.

Establishing the Bria Fund: A Call to Action

In July 2005, just months after Bria’s passing, Susan Gingrich penned a comprehensive proposal outlining her vision for an FIP research fund and submitted it to the Winn Feline Foundation, a respected non-profit organization dedicated to advancing feline health studies. Her initiative quickly garnered attention, leading to an invitation to a Winn executive meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, to discuss her ideas further. The foundation, recognizing the critical need and Susan’s passionate advocacy, formally agreed to establish the Bria Fund as a stipulated donation vehicle. This crucial designation ensured that 100% of all donations made to the Bria Fund would be exclusively allocated to FIP research, a testament to the fund’s focused mission.

The official announcement of the Bria Fund’s creation took place on November 18, 2005, at an international cat show in Foster City, California. This public declaration marked a pivotal moment, signaling a new era of dedicated efforts to combat FIP. The establishment of the fund provided a legitimate and transparent channel for concerned individuals to contribute directly to research, giving hope to a community long accustomed to despair. The decision by Winn Feline Foundation to embrace the Bria Fund not only lent credibility to the nascent initiative but also provided the necessary infrastructure and scientific oversight to ensure that research projects were rigorously evaluated and strategically funded.

Forging a Global Community: The Power of Shared Experience

While awaiting Winn’s decision, Susan Gingrich embarked on a parallel endeavor: connecting with other cat owners who had faced the FIP challenge. She discovered a burgeoning online community, including an established Yahoo group called "FIP Cat Support." Recognizing the power of shared experience and collective action, Susan, with the moderator’s assistance and a few other dedicated individuals, co-founded the "FIP Fighters’ Group" on Facebook. This early adoption of social media proved instrumental in building a global network of "FIP sisters" – a term of endearment for the women united by their common heartbreak and fierce determination.

This rapidly expanding online community served multiple vital functions. It provided a much-needed support system for grieving or struggling cat owners, a forum for sharing experiences and information, and a powerful engine for grassroots fundraising and awareness. Through these platforms, knowledge about the Bria Fund spread organically, reaching individuals who might otherwise have felt isolated in their struggle. Moreover, once the Bria Fund was officially launched and aligned with Winn, Susan gained invaluable access to knowledgeable veterinarians and leading researchers. Among them was Dr. Niels Peterson, whom Susan affectionately refers to as the "Father of FIP Research." Dr. Peterson’s mentorship and profound insights became an indispensable resource, guiding Susan through the complex scientific landscape and empowering her to effectively communicate research needs and progress to the growing FIP community. This synergistic relationship between affected owners, dedicated advocates, and scientific experts became a hallmark of the Bria Fund’s success.

The Uphill Battle of Fundraising and Early Triumphs

In its nascent years, raising money for FIP research presented significant challenges. The prevailing sentiment was that FIP was an incurable disease, leading to a natural reluctance among potential donors to invest in what seemed like a lost cause. The inherent difficulty lay in convincing people to fund research for a condition that, at the time, offered no hope of survival. However, Susan Gingrich’s unwavering belief in Bria’s purpose, coupled with the tireless efforts of the "FIP sisters" and the burgeoning reach of social media, gradually began to shift perceptions.

The core group of FIP advocates worked relentlessly, organizing events, sharing stories, and educating the public about the urgent need for research. Susan herself became a tireless ambassador, attending cat shows and various events, often spending her weekends, vacations, and personal time educating the public about FIP and soliciting donations. She personally covered travel, hotel expenses, and materials for these events, ensuring that 100% of every donation went directly to the Bria Fund. This profound personal sacrifice underscored her commitment and resonated deeply with donors.

A significant turning point occurred at Susan’s first Winn FIP Symposium, held during the annual Cat Fancier’s Association Conference in Virginia. This event provided an invaluable opportunity to meet many of her "FIP sisters" in person, solidifying the bonds forged online. It was also where she met Dr. Vicki Thayer, who would become one of her staunchest supporters and eventually the Executive Director of Winn Feline Foundation. The symposium served as a platform for planning and strategizing, allowing the core group to amplify their fundraising efforts. As awareness spread and confidence in the fund’s mission grew, donations began to flow more consistently. Within a couple of years, the Bria Fund celebrated a monumental achievement: the funding of its very first research project, a testament to the power of collective action and perseverance.

A Decade of Dedication: National Recognition and Global Reach

For over a decade, Susan Gingrich’s commitment to the Bria Fund was a "labor of love" that consumed her life outside of her full-time employment. She would work all day, then dedicate her evenings until midnight to the fund’s operations. Her husband, Jim Shurskis, was an equally vital partner, sharing in the sacrifices and dedicating their weekends to the cause. This personal investment continued until their retirement in 2015. Recognizing the immense personal financial burden Susan had carried for years, Dr. Vicki Thayer, then Winn’s Executive Director, authorized Winn to reimburse Susan for some of her past expenses, acknowledging the extraordinary selflessness that had propelled the fund forward.

Susan’s original proposal to Winn had included the creation of an FIP Awareness Week, centered around April 19th, the anniversary of Bria’s passing. While a full awareness week did not immediately materialize, a significant milestone was achieved on the 10th Anniversary of the Bria Fund. On November 18, 2015, Congressman Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee formally entered a statement into the Congressional Record, officially declaring November 18th as National Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness, Research and Education Day. Although initially intended for the United States, the significance of this recognition resonated globally, with Bria Fund supporters outside the U.S. embracing it as their own. This day became a poignant occasion for recognizing all the precious cats lost to FIP and honoring the people who loved them, transforming a day of remembrance into a worldwide call to action and education.

The Scientific Revolution: From Despair to Breakthroughs

The impact of the Bria Fund’s sustained efforts over two decades cannot be overstated. The consistent funding provided by the Bria Fund has directly contributed to the "tremendous progress in all aspects of FIP" that is evident today. In the early 2000s, research into FIP was fragmented and underfunded, largely due to the perception of the disease as untreatable. The Bria Fund’s explicit mandate to fund FIP research provided a dedicated and reliable source of capital, attracting brilliant scientific minds to a field previously considered a dead end.

Researchers like Dr. Niels Peterson and later Dr. Alfred Twetten and others, supported by funds from the Bria Fund and similar initiatives, meticulously investigated the feline coronavirus, its mutation into FIP, and potential antiviral targets. This foundational work laid the groundwork for groundbreaking discoveries. A pivotal moment came with the identification and development of nucleoside analog drugs, such as GS-441524 (a precursor to Remdesivir). These compounds showed remarkable efficacy in clinical trials, demonstrating the ability to inhibit the FIP virus’s replication within infected cells.

What was once an untreatable, universally fatal disease now has highly effective antiviral treatments available, albeit through various channels and with ongoing challenges related to accessibility and cost. The shift from a prognosis of certain death to one of potential cure represents one of the most significant advancements in feline veterinary medicine in decades. This transformation is a direct outcome of the sustained, focused research that funds like the Bria Fund have made possible. The EveryCat Health Foundation, the evolution of the Winn Feline Foundation, continues to play a crucial role in disseminating this progress, sharing research findings and fostering ongoing collaboration within the scientific community, much as the Bria Fund website did in its earlier days.

Looking Forward: Unfinished Business and Enduring Hope

While monumental strides have been made, the "total puzzle" of FIP is not yet fully solved. Researchers continue to work on preventing the disease, developing more accessible and affordable treatments, and understanding the nuances of viral mutation and individual feline susceptibility. The landscape of FIP research, once sparsely populated, is now vibrant and competitive, with numerous credible researchers actively engaged in various aspects of the disease. This growth, while a testament to progress, also highlights a new challenge: the demand for funding now often outstrips the available resources.

The Bria Fund’s legacy is not merely in the breakthroughs achieved but also in the enduring spirit of hope it has instilled. Susan Gingrich’s reflection on the past 20 years reveals a tapestry woven with countless faces: fellow advocates, dedicated researchers, supportive veterinarians, and the "FIP sisters" who shared her journey. Some remain close, some have drifted, and some, like their beloved feline companions, have passed on, leaving behind a profound impact on the fight against FIP. Her desktop, filled with photos of cats lost to FIP, those living with it, and the growing number of FIP survivors, serves as a poignant reminder of the journey. At 77, Susan remains healthy and sharp, a living testament to the power of purpose.

Her promise to Bria has been kept, and one can almost envision Bria in the feline afterlife, greeting newcomers with a knowing "Hi, I’m Bria, you know, that Bria." The Gingrich-Shurskis clan continues its love affair with Birmans. Cassandraa Brie (Cassie), a spirited 20-year-old Birman, now holds court, facing her own battles with Third Stage Renal Failure, HCM, mild IBD, and cognitive issues, yet retaining Bria’s feisty and bossy personality. Susan’s prayer for Cassie’s continued presence underscores the deep bond between humans and their feline companions, a bond that drove the creation of the Bria Fund and continues to fuel its mission.

The Bria Fund stands as a powerful exemplar of how personal tragedy can be transformed into a catalyst for global change. From a single promise made by a grieving pet owner, a movement was born that has fundamentally reshaped the understanding and treatment of a devastating feline disease. The ongoing need for donations to the Bria Fund, now facilitated through EveryCat Health Foundation, remains critical. It is through sustained support that the ultimate goal—the complete elimination of FIP—can one day be realized, ensuring that no cat parent ever again faces the despair Susan Gingrich and Jim Shurskis experienced on April 19, 2005.

About the Author: Susan E. Gingrich, MHS., is a Commonwealth of PA retiree, humorously referring to herself as a "recovering bureaucrat and proud, former public servant." A freelance writer and Christian activist, she currently resides in Loudon, TN, with her senior Birman cat, Cassie. Ms. Gingrich is planning to return to Pennsylvania to be closer to family and friends, continuing her legacy of advocacy and dedication.