University of Florida - College of Veterinary Medicine

Disease: Degenerative Myelopathy of the German Shepherd Dog (GSDM)
Sponsor: American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation
Report from Dr. Clemmons

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Update: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) remains one of the deadliest canine cancers, with dogs rarely living more than six months after diagnosis. New approaches are needed to improve the survival time of dogs afflicted with this devastating disease. Researchers from Oregon State University are expanding on prior Morris Animal Foundation– funded research into a novel class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have the potential to control the growth of HSA cells. Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that function as cell-signaling messengers that when overactive are associated with uncontrolled HSA cell growth. To date, researchers have identified a tyrosine kinase– signaling protein that they believe is functioning abnormally. Low concentrations of a candidate tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug seem highly effective in reversing the abnormal activation status of this signaling molecule, alone or in combination with a second anticancer agent. Researchers continue to screen for additional tyrosine kinases that behave abnormally in HSA cell lines. Using a protein-screening strategy, researchers have also identified 25 tyrosine kinase–activated proteins in canine HSA cells that could be associated with cell growth. Researchers have begun to investigate these target proteins with several novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors to determine their contribution to uncontrolled HSA cell growth. Data from this study are encouraging and will provide the basis to continue the investigation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a drug therapy to improve care of dogs with HSA.

Update: Leptospirosis has increased in dogs in the past 10 to 20 years. The disease is transmitted by exposure to urine of an infected animal, usually wildlife, and can cause potentially fatal kidney or liver damage. In this study, researchers from Purdue University are investigating the frequency and distribution of leptospirosis in dogs in the United States and will determine the specific bacterial strains of Leptospira that pose the greatest risk in the development of severe clinical disease. Researchers are making excellent progress in mapping out the distribution of leptospirosis and have evaluated more than 30,000 blood samples submitted to a commercial laboratory for testing over a seven-year period. So far, after examining preliminary data, the researchers have identified two significant regional and temporal outbreaks of the disease in the United States. Over the next six to nine months, they will focus on collecting blood and urine samples to characterize different bacterial strains of the disease. Identifying common proteins among clinically important strains will greatly improve vaccine development and cross-protection. Researchers will also use the samples collected to evaluate the antibody responses of vaccinated and naturally infected dogs with the goal of developing future vaccines and better diagnostic tests.

University of Colorado

Disease(s): Cancer
Sponsor(s): AKC CAR, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation
Researcher(s):Matthew Breen, PhD
Sponsor(s): Akita Club of America, Inc., American Bloodhound Club, American Boxer Charitable Foundation, American Bullmastiff Association, American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Atlantic States Briard Club, Inc., Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, Briard Club of America, Chinese Shar-Pei Charitable Trust, Collie Health Foundation, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation, French Bulldog Club of America, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation, Labrador Retriever Club, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc., Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Rottweiler Health Foundation, San Joaquin Kennel Club, Scottish Terrier Club of America Health Trust Fund, St. Bernard Club of America, Starlight Fund, Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation
Breed(s): All (non-specified), Boxer, Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog

Report Date: April 15, 2007

University of Georgia

Disease: Thyroid Conditions
Sponsor: American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, the AKC Canine Health Foundation. other breed clubs
Total Grant: $97,878

Report Date: June 30, 2004

Cornell University

Disease(s): Heart Disease
Sponsor(s): American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, German Shepherd Dog Club of America
Researcher(s): N. Sydney Moise, DVM, MS
Breed(s): German Shepherd Dog

Report Date: April 15, 2007

University of Pennsylvania

Disease(s): Search and Rescue
Sponsor(s): AKC CAR, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation
Researcher(s): Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD
Breed(s): All (non-specified), Golden Retriever

Report Date: April 15, 2007