South Africa-headquartered contract research organization Clinvet is extending its global reach through a joint venture with Marshall BioResources in the US.https://animalpharm.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/AP015681/Clinvet-continues-global-expansion-with-US-joint-venture read more →
The National Academies of Science (NAS) Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) will be hosting a public webinar on "The Uses of Dogs in Biomedical Research" on Tuesday, May 7, 9:30 am-11:00 am ET. Registration is free and open to the public. You can register here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-webinar-of-the-committee-on-assessing-the-use-of-dogs-at-the-va-tickets-60874793145?utm_source=Division+on+Earth+and+Life+Studies&utm_campaign=6da8ed4394-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_15_03_00_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3c0b1ad5c8-6da8ed4394-278819829&mc_cid=6da8ed4394&mc_eid=5ec62dce18… read more →
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research and Development has updated its website to include new resources on their canine research program. These resources can be used to help educate the public about canine use in biomedical research, focusing on the VA program specifically.https://www.research.va.gov/programs/animal_research/canine_research/ read more →
Children with cystic fibrosis can have lung disease, failed pancreases and fertility problems. Research in ferrets suggests that treating patients with a drug in the womb may protect against those issues.https://www.sciencenews.org/article/treating-cystic-fibrosis-patients-birth-could-safeguard-organs?mc_cid=303e18abdf&mc_eid=7e052cc54e read more →
Researchers identified genetic changes that occur as canine cutaneous mast cell tumors spread, and the findings, published in PLOS One, could enable veterinarians to better predict metastasis risk and might lead to the development of new treatments. Mastocytomas also affect people, and researcher Mike Starkey says anything scientists discover about canine cancer furthers understanding of the corresponding… read more →
A drug that combines two antibodies protected ferrets and monkeys against the Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaire strains of Ebola virus in a single dose, researchers reported in Cell Host & Microbe. The results suggest the drug would continue to offer protection as the virus evolves, says Thomas Geisbert, a professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. https://consumer.healthday.com/diseases-and-conditions-information-37/ebola-969/broad-range-ebola-drug-shows-promise-in-animal-tests-741404.html… read more →
Scientists have gained a better understanding of a potentially fatal tick-borne virus that emerged in China about a decade ago. They found that aged ferrets with the virus show similar symptoms to older humans infected by it, while young ferrets developed no clinical symptoms. This represents the first time researchers found an acceptable animal model to study the virus and develop possible drugs… read more →
Doctors in the US have raised hopes of a treatment for muscular dystrophy, the most common fatal genetic condition in children, after mending mutations that cause the disease in dogs. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/30/doctors-hail-breakthrough-in-muscular-dystrophy-treatment read more →
In the thousands of years they've been domesticated, dogs have helped humans in many ways, from herding sheep and cattle to performing search and rescue duties after disasters. Now dogs have begun aiding us in what might be the most important way yet: finding new ways to fight cancer. http://www.americanveterinarian.com/journals/amvet/2018/january2018/enlisting-dogs-in-the-war-on-cancer read more →
Cancer is one of the most frequent diseases not only in people, but in pets as well. Like people, dogs can also suffer from cancer of the mammary glands (mammary tumors). A study performed at the University of Zurich has now shown how similar mammary tumors are in both people and dogs. Research on canine mammary tumors is important for human medicine as well. https://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2017/06/dogs-help-breast-carcinoma-research?et_cid=5981609&et_rid=454969368&type=headline&et_cid=5981609&et_rid=454969368&linkid=https%3a%2f%2fwww.laboratoryequipment.com%2fnews%2f2017%2f06%2fdogs-help-breast-carcinoma-research%3fet_cid%3d5981609%26et_rid%3d%25%25subscriberid%25%25%26type%3dheadline… read more →
As Memorial Day approaches, we honor the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country. While honoring the soldiers who gave their lives in service of this country, it is important to recognize our obligation also to the brave men and women in uniform who now require treatment for wounds and scars inflicted during battle. With help from animal research and testing, clinicians and… read more →
There has always been a debate surrounding how best to use animal models in research. The most recent concerns from PETA have given the National Institutes of Health an opportunity to educate us about the applicability of animal research. http://www.nabr.org/nih-official-educates-peta-about-the-applicability-of-animal-research/ read more →
The Hollywood comedian, Jimmy Kimmel, got emotional in front of his television audience. He tearfully thanked the doctors and nurses who saved the life of his son, born last week with a congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with Pulmonary Atresia (PA). This rare disease is characterized by four main heart defects that can be corrected by a series of operations over several years—all… read more →
Cancer research often involves mice, however, dogs have more physiologic and genetic similarities to humans than mice do. Also, dogs spontaneously develop many of the same cancers as humans. Studying cancer treatments in dogs not only helps the canine patients, but it also provides a greater understanding of the disease, and allows for the collection of valuable data needed for FDA approval of similar… read more →
Greyhound dogs have contributed to advances in preserving the heart for a transplants. Despite what biased news sources have stated, the dogs were provided anesthetics so that they would not feel any pain, and the research was approved following rigorous ethical review. This research will contribute to better heart transplants for human patients. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/19/contrary-to-emotive-reporting-scientists-testing-on-greyhounds-are-not-dr-frankensteins… read more →
One blog writer shares her initial struggle with the idea of dogs in biomedical research, but how her thoughts have changed through researching a story about how dogs have contributed to advancements in cancer therapies that benefit both dogs and humans. https://fbresearch.org/story-changed-mind-dog-rese... read more →
Several recent publications have demonstrated the value of A129 and AG129 mice for evaluating Zika virus and potential vaccines and treatments. Zika virus has been associated with Gillian-Barré Syndrome as well as the birth defect microcephaly, and the recent spread of the virus in the Americas has caused public health concern. Several groups have characterized Zika virus in A129 and AG129 mice.… read more →
Marshall BioResources, together with leading biomedical research organizations, learned societies, industry representatives, universities and patient groups, has signed a pan-European statement supporting the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.The statement highlights that:Research using animals has facilitated major breakthroughs in medicine, and… read more →
Experts spoke on Capitol Hill about the ways in which research with dogs has led to medical advances for both people and animals affected by serious illnesses. These presentations were for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) briefing on canine research. One presenter described similarities between canine and human cancer, and how researching canine cancers influences… read more →
Muscular dystrophy is a devastating disease caused by a genetic mutation that results in an inability to produce the muscle protein dystrophin. This protein is necessary for the building and repair of muscles, and thus those with the disease continue to experience degeneration of muscle tissue. The disease predominantly affects boys, and begins around age 5, by age 12 most individuals must use wheelchairs… read more →