The Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation has supported two new grants in 2012 from the Morris Animal Foundation
that were recommended by Karen Yager of the CSCA Genetic Health/DNA subcommittee. We co-sponsored the grants
for $3000 each, and we will receive follow up grant reports. The titles and purpose of the newest grants
supported are as follows:
Grant 1, Study ID D12CA-066 Developing Stem Cells to Treat Spinal Cord Injuries
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/developing-stem-cells-to.html
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jose Cibelli, Michigan State University
Co-sponsors: Kail Corgi Fund; Danny and Diana Beck honoring Dr. Kirk Weicht; American Spaniel Club Foundation;
Dachshund Club of America Health & Welfare Trust Fund; Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation
Up to 2 percent of the dogs admitted to the hospital arrive with spinal cord injury, and 77 percent of
these injuries are due to intervertebral disc disease. Long- backed breeds, especially Dachshunds, have the
highest incidence. Currently, there is no restorative treatment for canine spinal cord injuries.
The use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offers a potential solution; however, efforts to establish
a platform for canine ipSC generation, neural differentiation and cell transplantation have been limited.
Previously, the researchers generated canine ipSCs from adult fibroblasts of a German Shorthair Pointer
and derived canine neural stem cells from those cells. In this study, they will attempt to do the same
with Dachshunds. If successful, the study could demonstrate that derivation of canine ipSCs and canine
neural stem cells is feasible, thereby opening the window for studies into inherited central nervous
system diseases in dogs.
Grant 2, Study ID D12CA-313 Evaluating a New Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis in Dogs
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/evaluating-a-new-cell-therapy.html
Principal Investigator: Dr. Thomas G. Koch, University of Guelph, Canada, First Award Grant
Co-sponsors: Ms. Ann Campbell; Golden Retriever Foundation; American Spaniel Club Foundation;
Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation
An estimated 20 percent of adult dogs suffer from osteoarthritis. Many drug therapies are available,
but some dogs do not respond to these medications or cannot tolerate them. One option would be to try to
repair the connective tissue of the arthritic area, but cell therapies for connective tissue development
need further exploration and validation before they are ready for mainstream clinical practice.
This study will evaluate canine mesenchymal stromal-cell formulations for their effect on the immune system
and ability to generate cartilage. Data gathered will contribute to a greater understanding of cellular
reprogramming events and could be used to develop advanced treatments for repairing damaged tissue in dogs.
In 2011 the Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation supported three different grants from the Morris Animal Foundation
that were recommended by Karen Yager of the CSCA Genetic Health/DNA subcommittee. We co-sponsored the grants for
$3000 each, and we will receive follow up grant reports. The titles of the grants are as follows:
Grant 1, MADGiC: Making Advanced Discoveries in Golden Cancers
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/madgic-making-advanced.html
Grant 2, Treating Canine Paralysis with Stem Cells
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/treating-canine-paralysis.html
Grant 3, Evaluating Drugs to Treat Hemangiosarcoma
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/evaluating-drugs-to-treat.html
Hemangiosarcoma remains one of the deadliest canine cancers. Despite treatments such as
chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, dogs rarely live beyond six months after diagnosis.
This study will expand on the research team's previous research into a novel class of drugs called tyrosine
kinase inhibitors that may have the potential to control the growth of hemangiosarcoma.