Epilepsy Research Update
Flying start for epilepsy study
Earlier this year the CGC announced the broadening of its idiopathic epilepsy (IE) project to include Beagles, English Springers, Giant Schnauzers, Hungarian Vizslas and Irish Setters. The IE team is pleased to report that the launch has met with a very enthusiastic response from dog owners: around 355 swab kits for these five breeds have been sent out, with more kit requests coming in every day. The graph shows these kit requests according to breed – our target is 200 from each.
Studies of this nature rely on large numbers of samples, so this positive response is very promising. Another encouraging sign is how news of the CGC’s IE study has spread far and wide. Offers to donate samples have come not only from the UK, but also from Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, USA, Australia, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Germany and France.
If you have received one of our swab kits as part of this project, please remember to swab your dog and return your kits as soon as you can.
Epilepsy project timeline
The first phase of the project, currently underway, involves sample collation, DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing. From September onwards the CGC team will start to analyse the whole genome sequencing data. Then, from around May 2025, the project focus will involve the validation testing of candidate variants in breed-specific case-control sets.
Contact the Canine Genetics Centre to Order a Sample Kit
1. If your dog is affected with epilepsy OR
2. Your dog is over 8yrs and unaffected