Research Update CHF-02107 Final: Landmark Clinical Trial to Establish the Evidence-Based Use of Regenerative Medicine to Treat Tendon Injury in Dogs

Due to COVID-19, laboratory and hospital closure halted the trial until January 2021. Since that time, the researchers have not had owners with appropriate cases agree to enroll in the study. Major sources of cases are athletic dogs such as agility dogs. Due to COVID-19, agility and other trials were halted. When starting back up in late Spring/early summer of 2021; the formerly busy caseload for supraspinatus tendinopathy has not yet returned. The researchers anticipated a lag between the beginning of agility trials and injury to the canine athlete’s shoulders, however, within the last 24 months, that has not proven to be the case. Continue reading “Research Update CHF-02107 Final: Landmark Clinical Trial to Establish the Evidence-Based Use of Regenerative Medicine to Treat Tendon Injury in Dogs”

Research Update CHF 02624 Final: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture

We have now completed recruitment and marker genotyping of Labrador Retriever dogs under this award. A final single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data set of 1,006 dogs has been assembled and filtered for data analysis, slightly exceeding what was promised under the award. We have now completed analysis of these data to estimate heritability of cruciate ligament rupture, determined the extent of the polygenicity of the disease, and developed a genetic testing method for accurately predicting risk of cruciate ligament rupture. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02624 Final: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture”

Research Update CHF 02624 EY3: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture

We have now completed recruitment and marker genotyping of Labrador Retriever dogs under this award. A final single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data set of 1,006 dogs has been assembled and filtered for data analysis, slightly exceeding what was promised under the award. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02624 EY3: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture”

Research Update CHF 02624 EY2: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture

We have met our Labrador Retriever recruitment for this study over the past six months. We will continue to complete DNA isolation and marker genotyping of the remaining dogs needed for the study as long as the genotyping service remains open under the Covid-19 pandemic. Public engagement with the project continues to be good.

Over the next 6 months, we will focus on finalizing the marker data set for the study for which we do not yet have SNP genotypes. We will then undertake the computing needed to robustly estimate the heritability of cruciate ligament rupture in the Labrador Retriever and further advance prediction of risk of disease using the genomic marker data.

Our final data set is expected to include more than 1,000 Labrador Retriever dogs as promised under the award. We are extremely grateful for the outstanding engagement with this project by the community of Labrador Retriever owners and breeders that we work with.

End-Year-2 Research Update Dr. Muir for polygenicity of cruciate rupture.

Research Update CHF 02624 MY2: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture

We have met our recruitment trajectory for this study over the past six months. We will continue to work hard to recruit additional dogs over the coming months and genotype the remaining dogs needed for the study as long as the genotyping service remains open under the Covid-19 pandemic. Public engagement with the project continues to be good. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02624 MY2: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture”

Research Update CHF-02107 Mid-Year: Landmark Clinical Trial to Establish the Evidence-Based Use of Regenerative Medicine to Treat Tendon Injury in Dogs

Tendon injury is common, often progresses undiagnosed, and results in reduced function, lameness and pain in both companion dogs and canine athletes. Failed healing and recurrence frequently occur because unassisted tendon healing results in scar formation with inferior mechanical properties.

Continue reading “Research Update CHF-02107 Mid-Year: Landmark Clinical Trial to Establish the Evidence-Based Use of Regenerative Medicine to Treat Tendon Injury in Dogs”

Research Update Mid-yr 1 CHF 02624: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Cruciate ligament rupture (CR) is a common disabling, degenerative condition of the knee. It places a large financial burden on the American public. Inflammation of the stifle and fraying of cruciate ligament fibers, particularly in the cranial cruciate ligament, eventually leads to ligament rupture with associated stifle instability in affected dogs. CR is a moderately heritable, complex disease with genetic and environmental risk.

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Update End-Year 2 (Final)- Health Implication of Early Spay Neuter

Summary: Final update on findings at the end-year 2 in a study to develop a generalized understanding of the impact of early spay and neuter on disease risk in dogs. The goal of this project was to evaluate, using one consistent and uniform database at their large veterinary medical center (UC Davis). This update provides conclusions for several medium-to-large breed dogs regarding the impact of early spay/neuter on cancer and musculoskeletal risks. Several additional breeds were evaluated since last update. Additionally, several small breeds were evaluated determining negligible risk with early spay/neuter. Findings indicate risk vary from breed to breed.

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Update Mid-Year 2- Health Implication of Early Spay Neuter

Update on findings at the mid-year 2 in a study to develop a  generalized understanding of the impact of early spay and neuter on disease risk in dogs. The goal of this project is to evaluate, using one consistent and uniform database at their large veterinary medical center (UC Davis). This update provides conclusions for several medium-to-large breed dogs regarding the impact of early spay/neuter on cancer and musculoskeletal risks. Additionally, several small breeds were evaluated determining negligible risk with early spay/neuter.Findings indicate risk vary from breed to breed.
Continue reading “Update Mid-Year 2- Health Implication of Early Spay Neuter”