August 2018

TTHWF Sponsors IMHA, Lymphoma and Epilepsy Research

TTHWF is proud to help sponsor research through the AKC Canine Health Foundation.  In 2017, the TTHWF made a $2500 donation in support of the AKC CHF Tick Bourne Disease Initiative. Earlier this year, the TTHWF donated $2500 towards AKC CHF’s “Oncology-Lymphoma” Research Project Area In June 2018, the TTHWF voted to help sponsor CHF grant #02348 “Whole Blood Transcriptome Profiling of Dogs with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) conducted by Dr. Steven G Friedenberg, DVM, PhD at the University of Minnesota. (link))    The TTHWF also voted to help sponsor CHF grant #2502 “Precision Medicine for Canine Lymphoma” conducted by Dr. Nicola J Mason, BVetMed, PhD, at University of Pennsylvania. (link)

In addition, the TTHWF recently voted to support a grant to Dr. Gary Johnson at the University of Missouri for Tibetan Terrier epilepsy research. For information on epilepsy and general instructions for sample submission see: (link)

EPILEPSY RESEARCH — SAMPLES NEEDED
If you have a Tibetan Terrier that has been diagnosed with Epilepsy, please consider sending a blood sample to the University of Missouri to help further their research. For information on epilepsy, useful research families, and instructions for sample submission: (link)

SAMPLES FROM PRA– AFFECTED DOGS STILL NEEDED
If you have a dog that has been diagnosed with PRA, please consider submitting a blood sample to the University of Missouri to help further their research. Information on Sample Submission: (link)  If you have questions about sample submission, please contact Liz Hansen at the University of Missouri at hansenl@missouri.edu 

Grant for Simultaneous DNA testing

TT Health and Welfare Foundation grant will enable simultaneous DNA testing for multiple diseases affecting Tibetan Terriers using a single sample

OCTOBER 2015 The Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation has made a $15,000 health research grant to the University of Missouri that will fund the creation and validation of a panel of Tibetan Terrier-related DNA tests that can be performed at one time with a single DNA sample.  According to Dr. Gary Johnson from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, the ability to conduct multiple DNA tests simultaneously from a single DNA sample will be possible as a result of the University’s purchase of an expensive new scientific instrument called a MassARRAY.   

      The Tibetan Terrier panel of DNA tests is expected to initially include DNA tests for Lens Luxation, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Degenerative Myelopathy.  Dr. Johnson, in his grant proposal to the Foundation, noted that this new scientific instrument will lead to lower DNA testing costs for dog owners, since the cost of the proposed panel of tests is expected to be about $100.  The MassARRAY device can be used to perform twenty or more simultaneous DNA tests on a single sample according to Dr. Johnson.

      The creation of a panel of DNA tests for Tibetan Terriers may also lead to breakthroughs in the identification of genetic mutations that cause rare diseases in Tibetan Terriers.  For example, researchers have used computer algorithms to search through millions of apparent mutations to zero in on mutations that may cause rare forms of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in Tibetan Terriers.  But to prove that suspect mutations are, in fact, the cause of these rare forms of PRA, researchers would have needed expensive stand-alone DNA tests of many dogs in the hope of finding more Tibetan Terriers with the rare gene mutation.  Looking forward, researchers will be able to add a test for suspect mutations to the panel of tests for Tibetan Terriers --- a cost effective way to get the critical data researchers need to prove suspect mutations are associated with certain diseases.

      Stacey LaForge, former chair of the TTCA’s Health and Genetics Committee, described the chance to finally create an efficient panel of DNA tests for Tibetan Terriers, “exciting news.”   She added, “this is an idea that the Health and Genetics Committee has been discussing and pushing for over a year now, but the technology has not been in place to accomplish it until now.”  Tibetan Terrier owners do need to temper their excitement about getting a panel of DNA tests performed simultaneously from one DNA sample --- Dr. Johnson’s grant proposal advises it may be a year before everything is ready for panel DNA testing of Tibetan Terriers to begin at the University of Missouri.

September 28, 2014

TTHWF sponsors Hypothyroidism Research Through AKC CHF

The TTHWF is proud to help sponsor AKC CHF grant #02138 entitled "Development of an Accurate Diagnostic Assay for Canine Hypothyroidism" by Dr. Jan A Mol, PhD from the University of Utrecht.

January 1, 2013
New Grant To Study PRA Approved, Call for Samples

The Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation has announced the approval of a $20,000 grant to Dr. Gary Johnson from University of Missouri to further study Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Tibetan Terriers.  PRA is a group of inherited diseases that cause the degeneration of the retina over time, resulting in blindness.

By sequencing the genome of two PRA affected TTs (one diagnosed with an early onset form of PRA  and the other with later onset PRA), they hope to identify the mutations that cause the forms progressive retinal atrophy found in TTs that are not explained by the previously identified rcd4 PRA. (See below for information about rcd4 PRA testing.) Dr. Johnson's proposal is entitled “Identification of Mutations Responsible for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in TTs by Whole Genome Sequencing”.

PRA Samples Still Requested by University of Missouri
If you have a dog that has been diagnosed with PRA, please consider submitting a blood sample to the University of Missouri to help further their research. Information on Sample Submission

If you have questions about sample submission, please contact Liz Hansen at the University of Missouri at hansenl@missouri.edu

September 7, 2012
Important Announcement from the University of Missouri
PRA Research Update and RCD4 PRA Testing Available

Earlier this summer Dr. Cathryn Mellersh and colleagues at the Animal Health Trust in England reported the identification of a mutation in a gene named C2orf71. This mutation causes PRA in older members of the Gordon Setter breed and related breeds. We, at the University of Missouri, have identified the same mutation in members of several non-setter breeds including the Tibetan Terrier. This finding prompted us to request a small grant from the Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation to estimate the relative importance of the C2orf71 mutation as a cause of PRA in Tibetan Terriers.

As part of this project, we tested for the C2orf71 mutation in DNA from 125 Tibetan Terriers. Our results indicate that the C2orf71 mutation makes a relatively small contribution to the overall PRA problem in Tibetan Terriers. Only about 2% of the Tibetan Terriers have inherited the C2orf71 mutation from both their sire and their dam and are therefore at risk of developing PRA as they approach 10 years of age. Nonetheless, Tibetan Terrier breeders can avoid producing any puppies at risk of developing PRA caused by C2orf71 mutation by testing their breeding stock and ensuring that at least one member of any breeding pair tests “homozygous normal.” Tests can be purchased at the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website where it is referred to as RCD4 PRA.

It is clear from our study that most of the PRA in Tibetan Terriers is caused by an as yet undiscovered mutation (or mutations). We are currently preparing another grant proposal for the Tibetan Terrier Health and Welfare Foundation to fund additional experiments which may enable us to identify novel causes of Tibetan Terrier PRA. This should lead to the production of new DNA test to assist breeders’ efforts to produce puppies will that maintain healthy retinas throughout their lives.

Gary S. Johnson, DVM. PhD
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri

February, 2013
TTHWF Co-Sponsors Lymphoma Study with the
Morris Animal Foundation
The TTHWF is proud to announce that we will be co-sponsoring a promising study through the Morris Animal Foundation. The study, Determining a More Effective Treatment for Canine Lymphoma is being conducted by Dr. Jaime Modiano at the University of Minnesota.

Researchers seeking grant funding click HERE.

TIBETAN TERRIER
RESEARCH PROJECTS

University of Missouri
Gary S. Johnson, DVM, PhD
Identification of Mutations Responsible for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Tibetan Terriers by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Proposed start date – 1/2/13
Proposed end date – 4/30/13 to 6/30/13 (pdf)

University of California - Davis
Stem Cell Therapy Research
Limited clinical trial investigating the potential of stem cells to treat NCL.
• June, 2009 Introduction
• June, 2010 update

Michigan State University
PRA Research 
Dr. Simon Peterson-Jones is stepping up his Tibetan Terrier PRA research.
• January 2010
• Downloadable blood sample
submission form

AKC Canine Health Foundation

The TTHWF is proud to help sponsor research through the AKC CHF. Here are some grants we have sponsored.

• Grant #02138 Hypothyroidism
• Grant # 01828 Hip Dysplasia
• Grant #1678 Apoptosis/IMHA
• Grant #1429 Hemangiosarcom
• Grant # 1113 Lymphoma
• 2011 update#1
• 2011 update#2
  

• Grant # 1268 Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
• 2011 update

• Study #D13CA-033
  (Canine Lymphoma)