Muscles, Bones & Joints Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds both basic and clinical research to address diseases and conditions affecting a dog’s musculoskeletal system.
Why We Focus on Muscles, Bones & Joints
As dogs live longer and become more active, it’s important to ensure their muscles, bones, and joints stay healthy. Many dogs
love to play, run, and exercise, and many compete in sports or have working jobs. However, as they age or take on too much physical activity, they can develop problems like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and joint injuries. There is a growing need to find better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent these conditions. By researching how muscles, bones, and joints work and how to heal them, we can help dogs stay active and pain-free, allowing them to live their best, healthiest lives for many years.
Research Grants
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $129,218
03227: Genetic Testing for Cruciate Ligament Rupture Using Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) Prediction
Breed(s): Greyhound, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, Rottweiler
Researcher(s): Peter Muir, BVSc, PhD
Sponsor(s): Akita Club of America, Inc., American Chesapeake Club Charitable Trust, Bichon Frise Club of America, Inc., Gordon Setter Club of America, Inc., Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, Rottweiler Health Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $18,932
03181-A: Characterization of Canine CD39 and CD73 for Use in Regenerative Medicine
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Ronald Sluyter, PhD and Reece Andrew Sophocleous, PhD
Sponsor(s): Golden Retriever Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $41,248
03076: The Effect of Overweight and Obesity on Adult Stem Cell Function for Regenerative Therapies in Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Nora Springer, DVM
Sponsor(s): Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation, Bull Terrier Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $14,677
03068-A: AGILE (AGility Innovations Leveraging Electronics) – An Initial Study of Technology for Quantifying Canine Agility-specific Activity
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Nina Rachel Kieves, DVM and Aielle Pechette Markley, DVM
Sponsor(s): Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $8,527
02851-A: Development of Regional Anesthesia Techniques to Treat Chronic Painful Conditions of the Stifle and Elbow in Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Diego A. Portela, DVM, PhD
Sponsor(s): Health & Rescue Foundation of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America, Affenpinscher Rescue of America, Akita Club of America, Inc., Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, Rottweiler Health Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $15,000
02849-A: Development and Validation of a New Body Condition Scoring System for use in Canine Athletes
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Cristina Hansen, DVM, PhD
Sponsor(s): American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association / Foundation, Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc.
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $14,973
02868-A: Characterization of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Properties of Canine Culture-expanded Articular Chondrocytes
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): John Kisiday, PhD
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $5,400.00
02843-E: 2020 Summer Veterinary Student Educational Grant – University of Pennsylvania
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $14,939
02682-A: The Effect of a Modified Approach on Early Weight Bearing in Dogs Following a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Otto Lanz, DVM and Dominique Sawyere Hansford BVSc, MS
Sponsor(s): Akita Club of America, Inc., Golden Retriever Foundation, Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, Samoyed Club of America Education & Research Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $154,116
02624: Embracing Polygenicity of Common Complex Disease in Dogs: Genome-wide Association of Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Breed(s): Labrador Retriever
Researcher(s): Peter Muir, BVSc, PhD
Sponsor(s): American Field Pointer Association, Australian Terrier International, Retriever News – Entry Express, Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., Portuguese Water Dog Foundation, Rottweiler Health Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $15,000
02610-A: The Role of Motilin Signaling in Canine Osteoarthritis
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Li Zeng, PhD
Sponsor(s): Health & Rescue Foundation of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America, Old English Sheepdog Club of America, American Brittany Club, Irish Setter Club of America Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $14,831
02646-A: Effect of Hyperthermia on Skeletal Muscle Energy Efficiency
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Michael S. Davis, DVM, PhD
Sponsor(s): Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $18,745
02400-MOU: Basis of Dwarfism in Great Pyrenees
Breed(s): Great Pyrenees
Researcher(s): James Mickelson, PhD
Sponsor(s): Great Pyrenees Club of America, Gordon Setter Club of America, Inc.
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $61,784
02275: Disease Risks Associated with Spay and Neuter: A Breed-Specific, Gender-Specific Perspective
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Benjamin L Hart, DVM, PhD
Sponsor(s): American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc., Collie Health Foundation, Portuguese Water Dog Foundation, Pug Dog Club of America, Inc., United States Australian Shepherd Foundation
Muscles, Bones, & Joints ● $12,960
02229-A: TPLO Surgery and Recovery: A Comparison of Arthroscopy and Arthrotomy
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Andrea Sundholm-Tepper, DVM
Sponsor(s): Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust
Join Us in Advancing
Canine Health
With more than $2.5 million supporting canine muscle, bone & joint studies, CHF is deeply committed to improving the lives of all dogs and their families.
