Major
veterinary cancer study of Golden Retriever dogs unveiled by
Morris Animal Foundation
Jan 16, 2011
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Orlando -- The Morris Animal Foundation
will launch a 13-year longitudinal veterinary study this year to
examine canine cancer in Golden Retrievers. In fact, the Canine
Lifetime Health Project, set to begin this year, will ultimately
enroll some 2,500 Golden Retrievers from ages 2 to 7 in an
effort to better understand the genetic, nutritional and
environmental risk factors for cancers and other canine
diseases.
The project, first announced
at the North American Veterinary Conference, is thought to be
the largest and longest observational study ever initiated in
dogs, reports Wayne A. Jensen, DVM, PhD, MBA, chief scientific
officer of Morris Animal Foundation (MAF). It is receiving
wide-scale industry support including Platinum sponsorship from
Hill's Pet Nutrition, a $2 million from Pfizer Animal Health and
commitments from Merial and other animal health companies.
The study's objective, Jensen
says, will be to determine "the true incidence of canine
cancer in Golden Retrievers in the
United States
. The long-range study offers researchers a chance to
characterize the pathogenesis and explore other associations
with the development of cancer and other diseases, he adds.
"The Canine Lifetime Health Project is a groundbreaking,
long-term effort to identify genetic, nutritional and
environmental risk factors for the development of cancer and
other canine diseases," MAF reports. "This study will
involve thousands of dogs, owners and veterinarians and will
result in the identification of new ways to diagnose, treat and
even prevent cancer and other diseases in dogs."
The hope, according to MAF
officials, is that the study will also serve as a platform to
help researchers better understand the progression of disease
and offer a novel framework to conducting long-term research
like this.
David Haworth, DVM, PhD,
director of Global Alliances for Pfizer Animal Health, says the
company's contributions underscore its commitment to
veterinarians.
"We expect to gain
valuable information regarding prevention strategies, early
diagnosis and, eventually, treatments for many diseases."
