Improving Detection and Treatment of Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

Cardiomyopathy and heart disease are common but poorly characterized syndromes in companion animals. The fellow hopes to improve the understanding of the basic pathogenesis of cardiac degeneration and to ultimately improve the health and welfare of animals with heart disease. She will use advanced imaging and microscopic examination to examine how naturally occurring degenerative heart disease (cardiomyopathy) progresses in dogs, identify the nature of the tissue changes and detect changes in gene expression that influence disease severity. Her findings will help enable earlier detection and targeted treatment of cardiomyopathy in dogs. The fellow worked in clinical practice for three years before returning to academia, where she is completing a three-year residency program in veterinary anatomic pathology at Texas A&M University. This fellowship will help her pursue a PhD in veterinary pathobiology.