MEDIA ALERT: DENVER/August 20, 2024 - A Morris Animal Foundation-funded research team will take a close look at the genetic risk factors for multiple cancer development in golden retrievers as a step toward understanding the high cancer rates noted in the breed. The group, led by Dr. Katherine Megquier and based at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, will use state-of-the-art technology to look at biologic samples collected as part of the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study.
“We know very little about the genetic risk factors for development of multiple cancers in dogs,” said Dr. Kathy Tietje, Chief Program Officer for Morris Animal Foundation. “The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is designed to provide samples and health data to leading scientists in order to tackle this and other complex health conditions.
The research team will compare genetic samples (DNA samples) collected from dogs in the Study, both those with multiple cancers and those without, with their own extensive bank of canine genetic data. Their goal is to look for genetic alterations that correlate with the development of multiple cancers. By identifying genetic risk factors underlying the most severely affected individuals, they will have better data to explore the root of this issue in golden retrievers. Their work could have far-reaching effects and apply not only to other breeds of dogs but possibly other species as well.
Funding for this project is made possible through the generous assistance of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, a Golden Retriever Lifetime Study partner.
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding nearly $160 million in more than 3,000 critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Kelly Diehl
