The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is committing more than $1.5 million on research grants in 2012, the Raleigh, N.C. organization reported today. The foundation approved 21 grants to 14 research institutions and universities from a field of 109 grant proposals. The 2012 grants cover canine health issues such as cataracts, carcinoma, dermatitis, epilepsy, liver disease, lymphoma, melanoma, and osteosarcoma. Some of the grants apply to research projects to benefit all dogs, while others apply to breed-specific projects for breeds including Australian Shepherds, Bassett Hounds, Greyhounds, Havanese, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, and West Highland White Terriers. The one- to two-year “Oak” grants are awarded annually to research projects that examine causes, provide accurate diagnosis and prognosis and develop effective treatments for canine disease. The foundation has invested more than $26 million in canine health research since it began in 1995. Funding for the grants comes from individual contributions, dog clubs, the American Kennel Club, Nestlé Purina Petcare, and Pfizer Animal Health. The 2012 grants include: • Targeting Neutrophil Activation to Develop Novel Drugs to Treat Respiratory Tract Inflammation in Dogs at research institution North Carolina State University with principal investigator Samuel Jones, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $63,580; • Investigations into the Genetics of Scottie Cramp: Sequencing of Associated Chromosomal Regions at research institution North Carolina State University with Principal investigator Natasha Olby, Vet.M.B., Ph.D., in the amount $52,180; • Genetic Analysis of Familial Glaucoma in the Basset Hound at research institution University of Iowa with principal investigator Markus Kuehn, Ph.D., in the amount $87,480; • High-Resolution Cytogenetic Analysis of Histiocytic Malignancies and Development of a Targeted Assay to Screen for Expression Level Changes at research institution North Carolina State University with principal investigator Matthew Breen, Ph.D., in the amount $125,000; • Evaluation of GS-9219 in Canine Cutaneous Lymphoma at research institution Colorado State University with principal investigator Peter Leegwater, Ph.D., in the amount $66,042; • Longitudinal Study Investigating the Progression and Pathogenesis of Atypical Hyperadrenocorticism in Scottish Terriers at research institution Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with principal investigator Kurt Zimmerman, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $66,266; • Serum Antibody Reactivity Profiling for Canine Lymphoma Detection and Monitoring at research institution Arizona State University with principal investigator Stephen Johnston, Ph.D., in the amount $49,140; • Defining New Therapeutic Approaches for Osteosarcoma through Genome Wide Screening and Comparative Oncology at research institution St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research with principal investigator Carl Walkley, Ph.D., in the amount $31,500. • Discovery of Genetic Susceptibility Loci in Atopic Dermatitis Using a Genome-Wide Association Study in West Highland White Terriers at research institution North Carolina State University with principal investigator Dr. Olby in the amount $107,133; • Alternative Genetic Approaches for Identifying Canine Osteosarcoma Genes at research institution Ohio State University College of Medicine with principal investigator Carlos Alvarez, Ph.D., in the amount $120,000; • Phase I S100B Inhibitor Clinical Trial for Canine Melanoma Therapy at research institution Texas A&M University with principal investigator Heather Brown, DVM, in the amount $80,000. • Find Mapping of Loci for Transitional Cell Carcinoma in the Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and Shetland Sheepdog at the National Genome Research Institution with principal investigator Dominique Griffon, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $34,000; • Phase I Study of Involved-Field Radiotherapy for Advanced State Canine Lymphoma at research institution Texas A&M University with principal investigator Michael Deveau, DVM, M.S., in the amount $93,140; • Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Sebaceous Adenitis in Havanese Dogs at research institution University of Minnesota with principal investigator Sandra Koch, DVM, in the amount $58,056; • Probiotic VSL#3 Reduces Enteritis in Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease at research institution Iowa State University with principal investigator Albert Jergens, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $97,416; • Use of Modified Cyclosporin A to Improve Cataract Surgery Outcomes at research institution Ohio State University with principal investigator Heather Chandler, Ph.D., in the amount $37,410; • Identification of Idiopathic Epilepsy Genes in Australian Shepherds at research institution University of Minnesota with principal investigator Ned Patterson, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $106,289; • Clinical and Laboratory Efficacy and Safety Studies of T-Cell receptor Peptides in Canine Atopic Dermatitis at research institution Imulan Bio Therapeutics LLC with principal investigator Daniel Gingerich, DVM, in the amount $77,039; • Urinary Protein and Gene Expression Characterization and Comparison with Renal Biopsy Findings and Clinical Data in Dogs with Proteinuric Renal Diseases at research institution Texas A&M University with principal investigator Mary Nabity, DVM, Ph.D., in the amount $80,000. More details on the grants can be found here. <Home>
