Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

00593A: Mapping Genes Associated with Canine Hemangiosarcoma

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA), a malignant tumor of vascular endothelial cells, is a significant health concern in dogs, with an incidence of ~2% of all tumors. A national heath survey of golden retriever reported that neoplasia accounted for >60% of all reported deaths and HAS was the most common malignant tumor affecting >15% of golden retrievers. A […]

02808-MOU: Identification of a Second Genetic Risk Allele(s) Associated with the Development of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in the Boxer Dog

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited heart disease diagnosed most commonly in the Boxer dog. Investigators previously identified the first known causative mutation for ARVC in the dog in the striatin gene. However, this mutation does not explain all affected canine cases. As in the human form of ARVC, there appears to be […]

02920: Continued Investigation into Tumor-permissive Collagen Signatures in Canine Mammary Gland Tumors: Development of Prognostic Markers and Targeted Therapies for Improved Outcomes

Canine mammary gland tumors (CMT) are the most common malignancies in intact female dogs with the resulting morbidity and premature death having a profound impact on a large number of dogs, their owners and the veterinarians that treat them. While genetic alterations within tumor cells can promote their uncontrolled growth and ability to spread to […]

01708-A: Validation of a general method for enrichment of canine cancer stem cells

Osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and glioblastoma multiforme are three types of incurable cancers that are responsible for reduced quality of life and significant mortality in dogs. The processes that control the clinical behavior of these tumors is not well understood, but recent research suggests that a specialized group of cells called “cancer stem cells” (or CSCs) might […]

01889-Ga: Innovations in Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cancer – Goldens Lead the Way

Lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma are major health problems in Golden Retrievers, causing both suffering and premature death. Through ongoing collaboration, Drs. Jaime Modiano, Matthew Breen, and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh have identified several regions of the genome that contain genetic heritable risk factors for lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma in Golden Retrievers. They have tumor-specific mutations that occur recurrently in […]

00440: A Molecular Evaluation of Two Forms of Canine Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is the second most common heart disease diagnosed in the dog. The two most common forms of canine cardiomyopathy are dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Both are adult onset, familial diseases that frequently progress to sudden death and/or heart failure. We hypothesize that these diseases can each be mapped to […]

01762: Use of Plasma-Derived Growth Factors to Heal Cruciate Rupture

Over the last year, we have completed patient recruitment and recheck examinations for this study. We enrolled 29 dogs in this prospective clinical trial, 27 of which completed the study. One dog was lost to follow up and one dog died before completion of the study due to unrelated disease. All dogs enrolled in the […]

00360-A: Genome Expression Profiling: Canine Cardiomyopathy and Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

Canine cardiomyopathy and degenerative valve disease have proven to be highly complex conditions, with multiple potential etiologies, elaborate and interrelated pathophysiologic mechanisms, and a diverse phenotypic expression. The analysis of such complex systems would benefit from a global assessment of gene expression. Because gene expression is the primary regulator of cell function, expression profiling in […]

02318: Genetic and Environmental Risk for Lymphoma in Boxer Dogs

Lymphoma is a fatal cancer of the blood cells that can occur in any dog. Lymphoma is more common in Boxers, Golden Retrievers, and several other purebreds, which suggests involvement of inherited genes. Recent research has focused on gene mutations in the tumors of dogs with lymphoma. However, we do not understand why these mutations […]