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

1 min read Grant Period: June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2027 Active Grant

03413: Targeted Cytokine Analysis to Identify Hyper- and Hypoinflammatory Subphenotypes in Canine ARDS

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in dogs is a severe condition caused by intense lung inflammation, often triggered by infections, diseases, or trauma. This inflammation results in life-threatening respiratory failure and carries a high mortality rate. Treating ARDS is challenging due to the variability in how it affects each dog and the limited options for treatment, which currently focus on supportive care. In human ARDS, researchers have identified two distinct inflammatory phenotypes: hyper-inflammatory and hypo-inflammatory. These phenotypes have enabled doctors to tailor treatments more effectively, leading to improved patient outcomes. This project aims to determine whether similar inflammatory profiles exist in dogs with ARDS and whether these profiles can predict critical outcomes, such as survival and recovery time. To achieve this, we will measure specific markers of inflammation, known as cytokines, in the blood of dogs with ARDS and analyze their relationship to clinical outcomes. This research has the potential to enhance understanding of ARDS in dogs and guide the development of more personalized treatment strategies.