Current Research for Aussies
Border Collie Collapse (aka EIC) – Epilepsy
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: While cheek swabs do not require cooling, if you or your vet’s office plan to ship blood or tissue samples it is vital that they be sent by overnight service with cold packs. In hot weather extra packs may be necessary.
ASHGI provides financial support to select research projects. If you would like to contribute to ASHGI’s Research Support Fund, please donate now!
There are no studies recruiting blood or tissue samples for cancer at this time. We suggest that owners of Aussies with cancer in the US or Canada submit blood samples to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals CHIC DNA Repository. (They take cheek swab samples but these provide only limited DNA and we do not recommend them for this purpose.)
For European owners of dogs with hemangiosarcoma or lymphoma, please consider submitting samples to the Animal Health Trust (see below).
There are often ongoing clinical studies. These frequently require geographic proximity to the study location. You can search for active studies seeking participants on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website.
ASHGI is underwriting this effort.
Epilepsy |
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Project: | Canine Epilepsy |
Goal: | To identify genes responsible for causing epilepsy in various breeds of dog, including the Australian Shepherd, and develop a DNA screening test. |
Conducted by: | Dr.Ned E. Patterson Canine Epilepsy Network University of Minnesota |
Samples needed: | Purebred Australian Shepherds:
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Contact | Katie Minor Neuromuscular Genetics LabUniversity of Minnesota C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals 1352 Boyd Ave. St. Paul MN 55108 612-624-5322 |
Epilepsy |
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Project: | The Use of Accelerometry to Detect Seizure Activity in Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy |
Goal: | To develop an easily worn, inexpensive device to detect seizures and provide data to help veterinarians make informed treatment decisions as well as reduce the risk of injury or death from unobserved seizures. |
Conducted by: | Karen Munana DVM, North Carolina State University |
Participation Requirements |
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Contact | Julie Nettifee North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences & Comparative Medicine Institute 1052 William Moore Drive Lab B236 Raleigh, NC 27607 919-513-6812 janettif@ncsu.edu |
Epilepsy |
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Project: | The Microbiota-Gut-Brain axis in canine epilepsy-Determining the role of Lactobacilli |
Goal: | To evaluate the role of certain intestinal bacteria in the management of epilepsy in dogs. |
Conducted by: | Karen Munana DVM, North Carolina State University |
Participation Requirements |
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Contact | Julie Nettisfree North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences & Comparative Medicine Institute 1052 William Moore Drive Lab B236 Raleigh, NC 27607 919-513-6812 janettif@ncsu.edu |
Border Collie
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Goal: | To identify genes responsible for causing BCC in Australian Shepherds and Border Collies and develop a DNA screening test. |
Conducted by: | James Mickelson PhD University of Minnesota Samples needed from purebred Australian Shepherds and Border Collies that have exhibited an episode of collapse during exercise, stockdog trial dogs preferred. |
Sample type: | blood preferred |
Other requirements: | completed questionnaire (provided by UMinn) pedigree |
Contact: | Katie Minor Neuromuscular Genetics Lab University of Minnesota C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals 1352 Boyd Ave. St. Paul MN 55108 612-624-5322 |