October 1, 2015 15:00 ET — In an unprecedented collaboration, the Portuguese Water Dog Foundation is pleased and excited to announce that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Golden Retriever Foundation, the American Boxer Charitable Foundation and the AKC Canine Health Foundation for a joint research project to develop two technologies that will allow researchers to diagnose hemangiosarcoma in the early stages and to treat the disease before it reaches the crisis point.
Together, we have promised a support level of $472,000. The start date for this project will be announced soon, when the peer review process has been completed. Dr. Jaime Modiano will serve as Principal Investigator, building upon his 2005 research to develop a diagnostic test to detect hemangiosarcoma cell in canine blood samples, and introducing a novel drug which attacks the hemangiosarcoma cancer stem cells. The Foundation is extremely proud to have played a vital role in the early development of the diagnostic test enabling the detection of hemangiosarcoma cells circulating in the blood. This patented test is perfectly poised to be an integral part in this exciting new research project into detection and treatment of hemangiosarcoma.
[Editorial Update: based on peer review and approval from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, A Novel Approach for the Prevention of Canine Hemangiosarcoma research study was approved in December 2015 to begin on January 1, 2016.]
Detailed Project Description.
The Shine On Challenge
The genesis of this unique collaboration started in the Winter of 2015 with long-time Golden Retriever fancier Catherine Meddaugh, who offered $100,000 to the Golden Retriever Foundation as a donor challenge to address hemangiosarcoma. Cathy’s precious Golden Retriever, Shine, had been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Her generous offer led to an amazing nexus with agencies, foundations and researchers all finding their way to this powerful partnership.
Like so many of our beloved Portuguese Water Dogs, Shine lost his battle with hemangiosarcoma. Our joint commitment to him, and to PWDs like Perry, Jazz, Chessie, Sam, and far too many others, is to build on the foundational research that you have generously helped fund in the past and to ensure researchers have the continued support they need to take us into a future where we can both diagnose and treat this deadly disease.
Join us in the Shine On Challenge!
