News and events
News: Calls for cases
Cell therapy for spinal cord injury in dogs.
Recent developments in spinal cord injury (SCI) research have suggested that there are many interventions, such as cell therapy, that have the potential to become treatments for SCI. Current front-runners amongst cell transplants are olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). The Department of Veterinary Medicine has recently received major support from the Medical Research Council to conduct a phase II clinical trial in dogs with SCI. The project is currently being undertaken by Nick Jeffery and Nicolas Granger, for a three year period. The aim is to repair the spinal cord with intraspinal injections of OECs to try to restore adequate function to the most severely injured patients. The webpages on Spinal cord repair following injury in dogs contain additional information on the project and the entry criteria for the clinical trial.
For enquiries please contact Prof N.D. Jeffery ndj1000@cam.ac.uk or Dr N. Granger ng311@cam.ac.uk Tel: +44(1223)339969 Fax: +44(1223)330848
LUPA: Genetics of Dog Diseases:
Haemangiosarcoma in German shepherd dogs (click here for a submission form)
Anal sac gland carcinoma in English cocker spaniels (click here for a submission form)
Soft tissue sarcoma in Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and Rottweilers
Mammary tumours in English springer spaniels
Cutaneous and oral melanomas in Schnauzers and Poodles
The LUPA project is a Europe-wide consortium of veterinarians and geneticists attempting to elucidate the genetic basis of a wide range of canine diseases. The goal is to increase understanding of the diseases and develop DNA tests that can be used to identify dogs that may benefit from careful screening for disease development and be used by breeders to reduce the frequency of the diseases.
The University of Cambridge Veterinary School is undertaking part of this project (David Sargan, Jane Dobson, Jesús Aguirre-Hernández and others). We are leading a project on haemangiosarcoma of the German Shepherd dog, and are also taking part in the study of soft-tissue sarcomas in Golden Retrievers, Labrador retrievers and in Rottweilers; mammary tumours in English springer spaniels; and cutaneous and oral melanomas in Schnauzers and Poodles.
We are collecting blood (at least 2ml in EDTA tubes), serum (1ml) and tumour samples (email: drs20@cam.ac.uk for protocol or see information for vets). Finally, for all these breeds we are looking for blood samples from elderly dogs not affected by cancer to use them as controls. Please submit these samples accompanied by the sample submission form. If blood is obtained, it should be done in accordance with local rules governing sample collection for scientific procedures. Note that for all cases where blood is taken in the UK we can only accept excess from blood taken for a clinical purpose.
The webpages on Haemangiosarcomas in German Shepherd Dogs contain additional information for both owners and vets, plus forms for submitting samples.
As happens within any human population, every dog breed may have various diseases with a genetic component. In order to maximise the benefits of these samples, some of the controls will also help to investigate inflammatory bowel disease in German shepherd dogs, in a study being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College.
For the soft tissue sarcomas, the mammary tumour and the melanoma projects there is also additional information as well as a sample submission form.
For general inquiries about the LUPA project please contact Hannah Copeland at the University of Liverpool via e-mail: hmc79@liverpool.ac.uk or telephone 0151 795 6100.
Further information about the LUPA project, including details of all collaborators, is also available on the LUPA website http://www.eurolupa.org/
Anal Sac Gland Carcinoma in
Cocker Spaniels
A joint project is currently being undertaken by Gerry Polton (North Downs Specialist Referrals) and David Sargan of Cambridge Veterinary School, the aims of which are to use pedigree analysis to determine the mode of inheritance of the previously recognised predisposition to anal sac gland carcinoma in English cocker spaniels.
For additional information on this project visit the Anal Sac Gland Carcinoma in Cocker Spaniels webpage.
To submit a blood sample of an affected English cocker spaniel, or a control sample (of a healthy dog of the same breed aged 9 years or older) please donload the submission form.
For further information or to submit blood or pedigrees please contact Dr David Sargan at:
Canine Genetics,
Cambridge University Veterinary School,
Madingley Road,
Cambridge,
CB3 0ES
e-mail: drs20@cam.ac.uk
Primary Lens Luxation in Any Dog Breed
We are performing a collaborative study to develop a DNA based test for carriage of the mutation causing lens luxation with Dr Catheryn Mellersh of the Animal Health Trust. We are also collecting EDTA blood samples from any dog suffering primary lens luxation. Please request a submission form from Dr Sargan drs20@cam.ac.uk.