Recently Funded Research

Engineering a monoclonal antibody therapy for canine mast cell tumors

Mast cell tumors (MCT) are the most common skin tumors in dogs. MCTs can vary in their growth from slow-growing to highly aggressive tumors, and treatment options are often limited, especially for tumors that have spread or can’t be removed. Chemotherapy is sometimes used, but has side effects. Despite treatment, most dogs eventually succumb to disease within a year of diagnosis…
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The prevalence of Heterobilharzia americana in Portuguese water dogs in the United States

Heterobilharzia americana (HA) is a trematode parasite of dogs and is the causative agent of canine schistosomiasis. The life cycle of this parasite requires a definitive host (i.e.- dog), an intermediate freshwater snail host, and freshwater source. Dogs become infected when they stand, wade, or swim in cercariae (the infective form of the parasite) infested water… Continue reading

Building a Portuguese Water Dog Reference Genome to Unlock Breed-Specific Health Insights

The Portuguese Water Dog Foundation is very excited to join with Drs. Jaime Modiano VMD, PhD and Steven Friedenberg DVM, PhD, DACVECC in a project to improve the lives and well-being of PWDs. The team of Drs. Modiano and Friedenberg will lead a project creating a reference genome specific to PWDs, which will improve our ability to identify genetic drivers of common inherited disorders in the PWD… Continue reading