Building the PWD Reference Genome

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

Posted on by Crystal Smith in News

July 27, 2025 07:00 ET — The Portuguese Water Dog Foundation is very excited to join with Drs. Jaime Modiano VMD, PhD and Steven Freidenberg DVM, PhD, DACVECC in a project to improve the lives and well-being of PWDs. The team of Drs. Modiano and Freidenberg 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. This project is fully funded by your donations to the PWD Foundation. Once completed, this high-quality reference genome will be made available to the public, allowing researchers from around the world to access this cutting-edge resource that will enhance the breed’s welfare.

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Research Update CHF 02528 Final: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Diagnostic tests based on the detection of DNA from harmful organisms in clinical samples have revolutionized veterinary medicine in the last decades. Currently, diagnostic panels for several
vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are available through universities and private labs in the USA and abroad. However, the vast majority of results from sick dogs are negative, which frustrates veterinarians and dog owners trying to reach a definitive diagnosis. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02528 Final: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases” →

Research Update CHF 02528 EY3: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on by PWDF Admin in Research Update

Diagnostic tests based on the detection of DNA from harmful organisms in clinical samples have revolutionized veterinary medicine in the last decades. Currently, diagnostic panels for several vectorborne diseases (VBDs) are available through universities and private labs in the USA and abroad. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02528 EY3: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases” →

Research Update CHF 02528 MY2: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Despite the wide availability of tick-borne disease panels at laboratories in the USA and abroad, most results from sick dogs are negative, which frustrates veterinarians and dog owners trying to reach a definitive diagnosis. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02528 MY2: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases” →

Research Update CHF 02528 MY3: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Despite the wide availability of tick-borne disease panels at laboratories in the USA and abroad, most results from sick dogs are negative, which frustrates veterinarians and dog owners trying to reach a definitive diagnosis. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02528 MY3: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases” →

Research Update End-yr 2 CHF 02528: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Diagnostic tests based on the detection of DNA from harmful organisms in clinical samples have revolutionized veterinary medicine in the last decades. Currently, diagnostic panels for several vectorborne diseases (VBDs) are available through universities and private labs in the USA and abroad. However, the vast majority of results from sick dogs are negative, which frustrates veterinarians and dog owners trying to reach a definitive diagnosis.

Continue reading “Research Update End-yr 2 CHF 02528: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases” →

Research Update End-Year 3 02309-T: Targeting the Cancer Epigenome: The Effect of Specific Histone Lysine Methyltransferase Inhibition in Canine B-Cell Lymphoma

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Update on targeting epigenome for treatment of B-cell lymphoma from Dr McCleary-Wheeler.

Continue reading “Research Update End-Year 3 02309-T: Targeting the Cancer Epigenome: The Effect of Specific Histone Lysine Methyltransferase Inhibition in Canine B-Cell Lymphoma” →

Research Update Mid-Year-2 CHF-02292: Broad-Range Detection of Canine Tick-Borne Disease and Improved Diagnostics Using Next-Generation Sequencing

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Research update for expansion and improvement of diagnostics for definitive diagnosis of tick-borne disease in dogs.

Continue reading “Research Update Mid-Year-2 CHF-02292: Broad-Range Detection of Canine Tick-Borne Disease and Improved Diagnostics Using Next-Generation Sequencing” →