Current Research Studies - Health - Bernese Mountain Dogs
Histiocytosis - NHGRI Research
Research Organization: National Human Genome Research Institute Project (NHGRI)
Contact Person: Dr. Heidi Parker
Contact Phone: 301-451-9390 or 301-496-7299
Email Address: Dr. Parker or dog_genome@mail.nih.gov
Project Web Site: Not applicable.
About This Research Project
Elaine Ostrander and Heidi Parker at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are studying the heritable factors involved in susceptibility to malignant histiocytosis (MH), and are using blood drawn from Bernese Mountain Dogs that have been or will be positively diagnosed with MH. They still need more samples for their work.
They need samples from:
- dogs that have had (or will have post-mortem) a positive diagnosis for histiocytosis
- 'control' samples from healthy Berners over the age of 9 that have not been diagnosed with cancer.
It is crucial to know if these control Berners ever develop malignant histyocytosis, as well as any other type of cancer or tumor during their lifetime. So please inform the Dog Genome Project at NHGRI if this occurs at any time after the submission of the control sample.
What is Needed? (if you participate)
If you suspect that your dog has MH, call (phone numbers listed above) for a free kit. The kit includes two blood collection tubes with yellow tops marked 10cc of ACD Solution, and submission instructions. Your vet can also supply or acquire the tubes by contacting the researchers.
The scientists also need a copy of the pedigree for all dogs in the study at least through the grandparents.