AKC Canine Health Foundation Funds Landmark Clinical Trial on Regenerative Medicine Treatment for Dogs

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is pleased to announce the funding of a landmark clinical trial to establish the evidence-based use of regenerative medicine to treat tendon injury in dogs.

Funded as part of CHF’s Canine Athlete Initiative which seeks to fund research and provide education for dog owners in the rapidly expanding field of canine sports, this newly funded collaborative grant will inform the veterinary community in the use of safe and effective regenerative medicine techniques.

According to Dr. Shila Nordone, CHF Chief Scientific Officer, “Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field with the potential to transform the treatment of canine and possibly human disease.” Nordone goes on to say, “Because current regenerative medicine products and techniques vary widely and success stories are anecdotal at best, CHF is committed to funding independent studies that support the evidence-based practice of regenerative medicine.”

Principal Investigators Dr. Jennifer Barrett, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, and Dr. Sherman Canapp, DVM, MS, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR; and Dr. Victor M. Ibrahim, MD, FAAPMR, will conduct the first blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells on the most common sporting injury in dogs: supraspinatus tendonopathy, a shoulder injury that is similar to rotator cuff injury in humans.

In dogs, tendon injuries often progress undiagnosed and result in chronic lameness and pain. If left untreated, scar tissue may form, reducing the function of the joint and surrounding muscle tissue. Through this grant, a collaborative group of veterinary sports medicine specialists across multiple disciplines will determine if regenerative medicine therapies promote healing through tissue regeneration and reduced scarring.

As dogs are living longer and participating in more sporting events, CHF is committed to being on the leading-edge of novel therapies that will help all dogs stay Fit For Sport, Fit For Life.