New canine cancer research program dubbed an 'unprecedented' collaboration
Phoenix, Ariz. -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) and the Van Andel Research Institute (VAI) have created a new Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium, which aims to study naturally occurring cancers in dogs to better understand how the disease develops in both animals and humans.
Phoenix, Ariz.
-- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) and the Van Andel Research Institute (VAI) have created a new Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium, which aims to study naturally occurring cancers in dogs to better understand how the disease develops in both animals and humans.
Researchers will analyze saliva, blood and tumor samples from privately owned dogs of carious breeds, according to TGEN.
The program is supported by a two-year, $4.3 million federal stimulus grant, which includes TGEN and VAI partnership with the National Cancer Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, Michigan State University, dog breeders and veterinarians. Other funding sources for the study, endorsed by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and the Morris Animal Foundation, include $500,000 from Hill’s Pet Nutrition and $500,000 from PetSmart.
The study will cover costs associated with shipping and processing of samples, but TGEN says pet owners are responsible for paying for sample collection by veterinarians.
TGEN says the program’s “bark-to-bedside” approach presents “an unprecedented alliance of veterinarians, basic scientists, private practice clinicians, non-profit research institutes, universities, industry and government.”
