Donations

  • I prefer to donate by check. Who should I make it out to, and where should I mail it?

    Your contribution will help us work toward improving diagnostics and treatments, and hopefully, someday curing complex medical conditions such as cancer. All contributions will be gratefully acknowledged and are tax deductible.

    To make an offline donation we ask that you please make a check payable to “Ethos Discovery” and mail it to:
    Ethos Discovery
    PO Box 1342
    Westborough, MA 01581
    Phone: 781-305-2285

     

Scientific Programs

  • How does research differ from regular medical care?

    Research differs because it investigates using diagnostic and treatment options that are not currently part of routine medical care. This may include administering experimental medications or using new diagnostic devices that are being considered for future routine medical care. It may also include collecting extra patient samples (i.e., blood, urine, or tissue) to be used for future research studies.

  • How can I find out more, stay informed, or participate in a research study?

    We regularly update the current status of our clinical studies on our website. Each study features a contact form at the bottom of the page that you can use to contact us if your pet is eligible for enrollment, or to get more information about the studies that we are currently conducting.

  • As a pet owner, what is expected of me if I enroll my pet in a clinical study?

    Each study is designed according to its specific needs. We encourage you to read the guidelines associated with the study you are interested in.

    In General:

    • Compensation for enrolling your pet in a study will differ, but typically includes receiving study-related diagnostics and treatments at no cost. Additionally, there could be other discounts applied to your pet’s care.
    • In some cases, the owner may be asked to give their pet medications, or alter their diet or exercise plans. This will vary for each study. Some studies may require owners to complete questionnaires before or after the study.
    • Each study’s duration will vary, according to its design. Simple studies generally require a one-time interaction with a patient with no need for follow up, whereas more comprehensive studies may require multiple visits over several months to a year. 
    • Data collected from your pet will be used to improve the care provided to future patients. For example, it will be used to demonstrate that a new treatment is effective, or that a novel diagnostic test is accurate. Data will also be used in scientific publications and presentations to educate other veterinarians around the world about the research we have done so they can adopt similar treatments and diagnostics in their practices.
    • All patient data is anonymized and is not shared with any third parties.
  • Will participating in a research study cause my pet pain?

    There are very few studies being conducted by Ethos Discovery that have the potential to cause your pet pain.

    If a study has the potential to cause pain, it will include pain management protocols to ensure that your pet does not actually experience this pain (i.e., pain medications or sedation). We will always communicate the potential for a study to cause pain prior to enrollment. 

  • What if I decide to participate in a research study but change my mind at a later date?

    All studies provide the option to unenroll your pet at any time, with no negative consequences.

  • Do you do any testing on pets without their owners’ knowledge?

    No. All requirements for participation in a research study are clearly explained to the owner prior to their pet being enrolled.

    There are no extraneous tests or treatments performed on patients without prior discussion and approval from the owner.

  • Will participation benefit my pet, or only other pets?

    Both. Many studies will allow your pet to receive a treatment or diagnostic procedure that would not otherwise be available to them. Other studies will not immediately benefit your pet, but the data collected will benefit other pets in the future. Your veterinarian will discuss the potential benefits to your pet prior to enrollment.

  • Is there a cost to participate?

    No. Our studies do not require owners to pay for their pet’s participation. The majority of our studies compensate owners for study-associated costs. Certain studies also include incentives, which can be used to cover other medical care the pet may receive.

  • How safe are clinical trials?

    In general, we conduct safe research that has very little potential to negatively impact your pet. That being said, some studies that investigate new treatment options (i.e., medications) will have the potential to cause undesired side effects. Your veterinarian will always discuss a study’s potential complications prior to enrollment, so you can make an informed decision whether to enroll your pet.

  • How does veterinary research benefit humans?

    Ethos Discovery is committed to improving the care of both veterinary and human patients. We will provide data generated by our clinical work to organizations conducting similar research in the human medical field. This will allow our successful research studies to also be pursued in humans, so they can benefit people with conditions similar to those that affect pets.

  • How do you decide where to focus your research?

    Veterinarians at Ethos Veterinary Health, and other organizations, help identify areas of unmet diagnostic and therapeutic needs in veterinary medicine. Unmet needs are defined as areas of medical care where a diagnostic test or treatment option could potentially improve a patient’s outcome, but no such innovation currently exists. Ethos Discovery is looking to fill these unmet needs by developing new diagnostic tests and treatment options, with the goal of improving outcomes for both veterinary and human patients.

  • Why should I enroll my pet in a clinical study?

    By enrolling your pet in a research study, you are committing to help us improve the way we care for future veterinary patients. Some studies will allow your pet to receive treatments that otherwise might not be available to them.

    The data generated from your pet’s participation in a study will possibly benefit other pets and humans with similar ailments around the world.

  • What is a placebo?

    A placebo is a treatment provided to a patient that has no therapeutic benefit. A placebo is often administered to some study participants, instead of the actual drug being investigated, as a way to compare the study drug’s efficacy to an inactive drug in a controlled environment.

    The pet owner is typically not aware whether their pet has received the study drug or a placebo. Many Ethos Discovery clinical trials do not use placebos; however, they are necessary in some studies. Owners are always informed of the potential for their pet to receive a placebo prior to enrollment, though they will not be informed whether or not their pet is in the placebo group.

  • Where do clinical studies take place?

    The majority of our research studies occur at Ethos Veterinary Health hospitals around the country. If your pet is already an Ethos Veterinary Health patient, the same veterinarians who care for your pet have been trained to conduct our clinical trials and will manage your pet’s participation in the study.

  • Why does research matter?

    Research paves the way for the development of new diagnostic tests and treatment options that have the potential to improve how we diagnose and treat diseases. These advancements ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes and survival rates, especially for animals and humans with diseases for which there are currently limited diagnostic and treatment options available.

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