Thursday, August 2, 2012

Announcement: Call for Submissions for the Cornell Vizsla Mast Cell Tumor Pilot Study

The VCA Welfare Foundation (VCA WF) issues a call for sample submissions to a NEW Cornell Vizsla Mast Cell Tumor (MCT) Pilot Study, as of August 1, 2012.

This pilot study will initially analyze-- from blood samples-- the DNA of 25 affected Vizslas (diagnosed with MCT) and 25 control VIzslas (unaffected). All submissions will be kept confidential and require an owner/guardian's commitment to participate in the study for the life of the submitted Vizsla; i.e., agree to update every submitted dog's health records.

Our goal is to collect DNA samples for 50 Vizslas (25 affected/25 control) as soon as possible. Time is of the essence to better understand how Mast Cell cancer occurs in the Vizsla.

To participate and request a sample submission kit, please contact Liz Corey at the Cornell University DNA Bank by email (eg33@cornell.edu). For general questions, please contact the Cornell University DNA Bank by email (dnabank@cornell.edu) or by phone (607/253.3446).

All questions about the parameters of this study and/or about how to participate may be directed to Lynda Ruffini, VCA Health Committee Chair (thebirdhuntress@stny.rr.com) or to Elise Wright, VCA WF Board Member (olympicvizslas@gmail.com).

Please see the Press Release and Submission Checklist for more information. They are posted at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/VizslaTalk/files/Cornell%20Vizsla%20MCT%20Pilot%20Study/ and may also be found on the VCA WF "Research" page on the VCA website: http://vcaweb.org/welfare/research.shtml.

Thanks so much in advance for your participation and support for this important project.
VCA WF Board of Directors
vcawf2000@gmail.com

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Learn more about Mast Cell Tumors here