Frequently Asked Questions of the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF)
- What does CHF do?
- How is CHF associated with the AKC?
- Why is canine health research so important?
- Do you fund animal testing?
- Does canine health research help all dogs or just some breeds?
- Do you offer services to mixed breed owners?
- How do I find out more about the research CHF is funding for my breed?
- How do I find out more about the research CHF is funding for a particular disease?
- My dog is affected with _____. How do I go about getting help for my dog?
- Why haven't you done anything for MY breed?
- Does CHF have researchers on staff?
- How do you decide what research to fund?
- Is it true that some canine health research also advances human health?
- Have there been any major breakthroughs as a result of CHF funding?
- How is research used and/or disseminated?
- How much has CHF raised for research programs?
- Where does the funding come from?
- How can I help advance canine health research?
- How do I give through honorariums or memorials?
- Why are unrestricted funds important to CHF?
Q: What does CHF do?
A: CHF raises money to support canine health research. We make grants to investigators that are looking for:
- The cause(s) of disease
- Earlier, more accurate diagnosis
- Accurate, positive prognosis
- Effective, efficient treatment
CHF also supports educational programs that bring scientists together to discuss their work and develop new collaborations to further advance canine health.
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Q: How is CHF associated with the AKC?
A: The American Kennel Club created the AKC Canine Health Foundation in 1995 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization with the mission of raising funds to support canine health research. CHF is currently located in the Raleigh, North Carolina offices of the AKC, and they provide us with office space and services. This in-kind donation allows CHF to keep operating expenses low and apply a greater percentage of donations directly to canine health research. In addition, AKC contributes $1 million per year in support of health research. However, CHF is a separate organization with our own Board of Directors, staff and accounting system.
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Q: Why is canine health research so important?
A: The American Pet Products Association estimates that more than $45.4 billion will be spent on our pets in 2009. That translates into the fact that people's dogs have become part of the family, and we want them to live for a long time. The AKC Canine Health Foundation supports health research that will benefit dogs so that they can live longer and healthier. The genetic research helps breeders produce healthier puppies, and the clinical research helps all dogs that visit the veterinarian.
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Q: Does CHF-Funded research harm dogs?
A: Our funded investigators are required to sign an "Animal Treatment & Care" agreement that stipulates the following:
- General Animal Care: Every animal should have compassionate care, comfort, protection from predators and adverse environments, protection from and treatment for disease, and freedom from abuse and unnecessary pain.
- Research: Research using animals is fundamental to improving animal health and may provide models for improving human health.
- Authorized Procedures: Any AKCCHF funded projects must be performed in a manner that protects the animals in the project from unnecessary pain and suffering. All protocols and procedures must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before implementation and be performed in accordance with the direction of the Institution's Attending Veterinarian. A copy of the approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocol must be provided to AKCCHF.
- Euthanasia: Euthanasia is strictly prohibited as part of an experimental design for any animal participating in an AKCCHF funded project. If there are circumstances of seriously ill health of the animal or the animal presents a threat to the safety of others, euthanasia may be appropriate. The funded Institution's Attending Veterinarian must make this determination on behalf of the animal.
- Other: All studies shall be conducted in compliance with applicable Federal, state and local regulations.
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Q: Does canine health research help all dogs or just some breeds?
A: Research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation ultimately helps all dogs, whether they are purebred or mixed breed dogs. About half of the research we support is clinical in nature, which means that it deals with earlier, more accurate diagnosis of disease and/or more efficient treatments of disease. This research ultimately helps each dog that visits the veterinarian.
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Q: Do you offer services to mixed breed owners?
A: Much of the clinical research funded by CHF will be helpful in providing ways for mixed breeds to live longer, healthier lives. Mixed breeds are often welcome to participate in clinical trials for new treatments and therapies.
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Q: How do I find out more about the research CHF is funding for my breed?
A: Visit our website at www.akcchf.org and click on the "Research" tab to see what research is being done for specific breeds. You can search by breed, research institution, disease, investigator and/or grant number.
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Q: How do I find out more about the research CHF is funding for a particular disease?
A: Visit our website at www.akcchf.org and click on the "Research" tab to see what research is being done in a particular disease. You can search by disease, breed, research institution, investigator and/or grant number.
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Q: My dog is affected with _____. How do I go about getting help for my dog?
A: The AKC Canine Health Foundation does not have a veterinarian on staff. Your first step should be to contact your local veterinarian. However, we do have an extensive list of professionals and their contacts which may be able to guide you in finding the answers to your canine health questions. More information can be obtained at our website: www.akcchf.org. Click on the "Resources" tab for more information.
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Q: Why haven't you done anything for MY breed?
A: Each year, CHF asks Parent Clubs to determine their top five health concerns. This list is compiled and publicized to investigators through the Request for Pre-proposal and on the website. Not all Parent Clubs respond to this request, and there aren't always research projects going on to benefit every breed. CHF does make a concerted effort, however, to assist breed clubs in finding research that will be of benefit. And don't forget that just because a research project isn't "breed-specific" doesn't mean it won't help your breed! Often, genetic research done in one breed will benefit another breed. Since many breeds are related and share conserved parts of the genome, genetic findings in one breed provide scientists with a place to start looking in another. Additionally, clinical research (diagnosis, prognosis and treatment) helps everyone!
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Q: Does CHF have researchers on staff?
A: CHF is a grant-making organization. We give money to research institutions to perform investigations that will benefit canine health. We do not conduct the research ourselves.
CHF has a Director of Research Program Development who oversees the entire grants management program. The Director works closely with our Grants Committee, which is made up primarily of veterinarians, human medical doctors and individuals with a background in science (often with PhDs). These individuals review ACORN applications (small, pilot studies) for funding. OAK applications (large, longer term projects) are sent out for review by other experts in the field addressed by the proposal.
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Q: How do you decide what research to fund?
A: CHF's grant process is distinctive in that it gathers information about canine health priorities from our AKC Parent Clubs. We listen to the concerns of the dog owners/breeders and encourage our investigators to submit applications to the Foundation based on this closely monitored feedback. The unique alliance with the Parent Clubs also allows us to work together to fund the research and provide samples for faster, more efficient research.
We impact the health of your dogs through two types of research grants, OAKs and ACORNs. OAKs are traditional grants that are funded on an annual cycle. Major goals of our OAKs, which generally last more than a year and are $12,000 or more, are to target our "three pronged" approach: prevention, treatment and cure.
ACORNs, or seed research projects, are designed to allow researchers to complete small, relatively short timeframe projects and generate preliminary data for possible future OAK proposals. Generally lasting for less than a year and only funded up to $12,000, the Foundation's Grants Committee will review and fund these projects throughout the year. This is a program unique to CHF and has received positive feedback from investigators who are able to begin research without the delays usually associated with traditional grant cycles.
Our grants review process is rigorous and stringent. Applications are not only reviewed by our Grants Committee but also are subjected to reviews by experts in the application's field of study. We go to great lengths to guarantee that funded research is of the highest quality and thereby ensure that the results are significant and add to the body of research which will benefit canines and ultimately humans.
More information about past and currently funded grants can be found on our searchable website at www.akcchf.org.
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Q: Is it true that some canine health research also advances human health?
A: The genetic makeup of dogs and humans is about 85% the same. There are about 400 diseases that affect both species in the same way. Because of this, research in canine health will help humans, and research in human health will help dogs. Scientists have proven that the dog makes a good model for human health research. Some of that reasoning is based on a shared environment (we breathe the same air, drink the same water, walk across the same treated lawns), the shorter lifespan of dogs (you can study several generations of dogs in the time it would take to study one human generation) and the ability to track lineage through pedigrees of purebred dogs (each breed is considered to be an extended "family" or genetic isolate).
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Q: Have there been any major breakthroughs as a result of CHF funding?
A: Yes! CHF-funded researchers have made significant discoveries since 1995. In 2004, the first draft of the genome was fully sequenced by the Broad Institute (this information was published in Science in December of 2005). However, characterization of the genome started years earlier and continues on today. CHF has supported research projects that contributed to mapping the full genome. Identification of microsatellites and SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) across the genome led to the tools which enabled researchers to scan the entire genome for mutations. CHF funded research also created canine mRNA arrays to study gene expression and canine miRNA arrays. These tools are the foundation of canine genetic research.
Discoveries which Developed Genetic Tests made Possible by CHF
- Neonatal Encephalopathy in the Standard Poodle
- Dennis O'Brien DVM, PhD, University of Missouri
- Exercised-Induced Collapse in the Labrador Retriever
- Jim Mickelson, PhD, University of Minnesota
- Degenerative Myelopathy in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Joan Coates DVM, Gary Johnson, PhD, University of Missouri
- Kerstin Lindblah-Toh, PhD, Broad Institute
- X-Linked Progressive Retinal Atrophy (XL-PRA) in the Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies
- Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD Cornell University
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in the Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, and Toy Poodles
- Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD Cornell University
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in the English Springer Spaniels
- Cathryn Mellersh, PhD, Animal Health Trust
- Gary Johnson, PhD, University of Missouri
- Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Boston Terrier
- Cathryn Mellersh, PhD, Animal Health Trust
- Kathryn Graves, PhD, University of Kentucky
- Cystinuria in the Newfoundlands
- Paula Henthorn, PhD University of Pennsylvania
- Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) Type VI in the Miniature Pinschers
- Urs Giger, PD, Dr.Med.Vet., MS, University of Pennsylvania
- von Willebrand's Disease Type I
- George Brewer, MD University of Michigan
- Congenital Stationary Night Blindness in the Briards
- Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD Cornell University
- Fanconi Syndrome in the Basenjis
- Gary Johnson, PhD, University of Missouri
- Hyperparathyroidism in the Keeshond
- Richard Goldstein, DVM, Cornell University
- Coat Color for the Briards, English Setters, Miniature Schnauzers, and the Pug Dog
- Sheila Schmutz, PhD, University of Saskatchewan
- Ridgelessness in the Rhodesian Ridgeback
There are more genetic discoveries which have not yet been published which we are not at liberty to report.
Other Research
CHF support the work of Dr. Cynthia Otto at the University of Pennsylvania to follow the health of the Search and Rescue dogs that were deployed after 911. They are happy to report that after seven years, researchers have no increase in respiratory problems or cancer in the dogs that were deployed compared to a control group of Search and Rescue dogs.
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Q: How are the results of this research used and/or disseminated?
A: CHF funded researchers are encouraged to publish their results in peer-reviewed journals. Through these publications and through presentations at scientific conferences, research results are shared with fellow researchers and veterinarian practitioners. Ultimately, treatment advances appear in your local vet clinic. Additionally, CHF has the revised abstracts of completed grants on its website. Press releases are sent when discoveries are made to notify our constituents of these advancements.
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Q: How much has the AKC Canine Health Foundation raised for research programs?
A: CHF allocates approximately $1.5 million per year to new canine health research projects. Since its inception in 1995, more than $22 million has been approved.
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Q: Where does the funding come from?
A: The American Kennel Club is our largest donor. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company also provides tremendous support. CHF receives support from Parent Clubs and Parent Club Foundations, All Breed Clubs and Specialty Clubs. CHF has formed alliances with organizations like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals who make contributions in support of research. And of course, individuals contribute the balance!
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Q: How can I help advance canine health?
A: There are lots of ways to help. If you have an AKC registered dog, submit her DNA sample (cheek swab or blood sample) to the Canine Health Information Center DNA databank (visit www.caninehealthinfo.org for more information). Encourage regular health testing by breeders (and set an example for others if you are a breeder). Get involved with your local dog club and support efforts to host health education programs. And, of course, you can make a tax deductible contribution to the AKC Canine Health Foundation!
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Q: How do I give through honorariums or memorials?
A: Honorariums and memorials can be contributed securely on our website. Visit www.akcchf.org and click the "Donate Now" button and follow the simple instructions. Also, you may indicate your honorarium or memorial by submitting a check with a donation envelope and filling out the instructions (or let us know in a cover letter). Once received, we will notify the person or family of your choosing and will forward a card indicating that a donation has been made in honor or memory of their loved ones or canine friends. You will also receive an acknowledgement letter for your tax purposes.
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Q: Why are unrestricted funds important to the AKC Canine Health Foundation?
A: Unrestricted funds help CHF pay for overhead costs. Currently, we receive in-kind donations of space and services from the American Kennel Club which total more than $150,000 annually. Our alliance with Nestlé Purina PetCare Company also provides us with unrestricted dollars. However, these are not enough to cover the expenses we incur by providing educational programs, visiting clubs for presentations, and all the other things it takes to keep CHF running. Operating expense is generally calculated from the 990 (the tax form that charities must submit to the federal government). As of our last completed 990, our operating expense was 14.37%. In other words 86 cents of every dollar goes to support canine health research. Based on industry standards it is considered good to a have operating expenses of less than 20%.
