Borzoi Club of America, Inc.
2007 Nationals Health Clinics
Get information on the health seminar and clinics being offered at BCOA's 2007 national specialty show in Warwick, RI.
AKC Canine Health Foundation Alert
Broad Institute Call for Samples [Tuesday, October 8, 2007]
Nearly two years ago, researchers announced they had successfully decoded the genome of the domestic dog. Now, an international team of researchers let by the Dog Disease Research Group at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and supported in part by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, has used the genome to find genes for two dog traits, the ridge in Rhodesian Ridgeback and Thai Ridgeback dogs and white coat color in Boxers and Bull Terriers. These studies were just published in Nature Genetics. The scientists are now turning their attention to complex diseases that often involve multiple genetic and environmental causes, such as cancers and autoimmune disease. Their goal is to understand - and ultimately treat - these diseases in dogs as well as their human companions.
To be successful, the scientists at the Broad Institute urgently need the help of purebred dog breeders and owners. For each disease studied, blood samples from hundreds of affected dogs and older, healthy controls are required. This research can only be done with blood samples (DNA from cheek swabs is not high enough quality). They can only use DNA from purebred dogs, but do not need close family members. The blood can been drawn by your vet and sent to the Broad Institute Dog Disease Research Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Read more about this call for samples here.
Contact:
Jeff Sossamon
Director of Development & Communications
AKC Canine Health Foundation
PO Box 37941
Raleigh, NC 27627-7941
(919) 334-4015 (b)
(919) 334-4011 (f)
(888) 682-9696 (toll free)
jds@akcchf.org
www.akcchf.org
AKC CHF Call for Participation
Studying heart function in dogs with lymphoma -- All Breeds
A new Veterinary Teaching Hospital study is being conducted to
determine whether doxorubicin, one of the primary drugs used in
treating lymphoma in dogs, may weaken the canine heart.
Please e-mail julie_osborne@ncsu.edu for more information.
Recruitment of Epileptic Dogs for Seizure Drug Study Continues -- All
Breeds The clinical trial demonstrating the possible effectiveness of the
pharmaceutical drug Keppra as an additional therapy in the treatment
of canine epilepsy aims to recruit 10-15 more dogs to complete this
important study in canine epilepsy. Dr. Karen Munana, principal
investigator of the study notes that initial results demonstrate that
this drug may be effective controlling seizures in some dogs with
epilepsy. By adding 10-15 more dogs to this study base, statistical
summaries will provide additional information to firm up this claim.
The study is multi-institutional study, with veterinary neurologists
from North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee,
and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine participating.
If additional information is needed for interested referring
veterinarians and/or owners please contact study research technician,
julie_osborne@ncsu.edu, or fax inquiries to 919-513-6830.
Dogs with Oral Melanoma -- All Breeds
Dogs with oral melanoma are being recruited for a study of a novel
vaccine developed by Merial Limited, an animal pharmaceutical
company, to determine if this vaccine can help to prolong the
survival time in dogs with oral melanoma. Dogs enrolled in the study
will receive the melanoma vaccine and associated exams and labwork
and radiographs which will be subsidized by the study.
For more information on this study email: paul_hess@ncsu.edu or
julie_osborne@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-6812.
Contribute to this and other education programs funded by the AKC
Canine Health Foundation.
Contact:
Jeff Sossamon
Director of Development & Communications
AKC Canine Health Foundation
PO Box 37941
Raleigh, NC 27627-7941
(919) 334-4015 (b)
(919) 334-4011 (f)
(888) 682-9696 (toll free)
jds@akcchf.org
www.akcchf.org
