Our Studies/ Scientific Programs

Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis in Pugs (PDE) is a devastating disease. Clinical signs include seizures, circling, cognitive changes, and visual deficits. Our goal is to identify neurological abnormalities in Pugs with high genomic risk for PDE before the onset of the above-mentioned advanced clinical signs.

We are studying a novel live probiotic product typically found in the gut of healthy dogs to evaluate the ability of this probiotic to resolve diarrhea in dogs.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an important protein necessary for the repair of DNA in cells. Cancer cells express a unique type of PCNA (termed caPCNA) which is only found at small quantities in non-cancer cells.

Verdinexor is a chemotherapy drug that has been conditionally approved by the FDA for the treatment of canine lymphoma. Verdinexor is a selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound, and this family of drug has demonstrated encouraging results in preclinical studies when combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs.

Pneumonia (infection in the lungs) is a common diagnosis in dogs and cats and can be caused by a variety of pathogens (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungal organisms). Collecting fluid samples from the lungs of patients with pneumonia allows for tests to be performed that can identify the organism causing the infection.

The intestinal microbiota are highly functional, with a combined genome (termed the microbiome) that is approximately 130-160 times larger than the human or canine genome. The microbiome is a highly functional organ and produces approximately 1,000 different metabolites, many of which have systemic effects in the dog. Intestinal dysbiosis is defined as an alteration in

Despite years of active research in the field, high mortality rates associated with sepsis have remained unchanged over the last three decades; we aim to change this!

Following removal of the primary tumor and adjuvant chemotherapy, the development of lung metastasis is the most common cause of mortality in dogs with osteosarcoma. A distinctive feature of lung metastases of osteosarcoma in human patients is the surprising benefit that can result from surgical resection of the lung nodules. The use of surgery to

Paclitaxel is a human chemotherapeutic that has demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against  several human and canine cancers. Previous formulations of paclitaxel have been poorly absorbed in dogs, limiting its therapeutic value. Oraxol is a novel oral formulation of paclitaxel that is combined with a second drug, Encequidar, which improves this issue of poor

We propose that the spontaneous, but strongly genetic-based model of canine Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) presents a unique way to help demonstrate the feasibility of inflammatory neurological disease prevention therapy.

Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) is a common side effect of chemotherapy in patients with cancer, with sepsis being a potential consequence. The timely identification and treatment of sepsis is paramount to the success of therapy.

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive cancer in dogs and carries a poor prognosis. There are limited therapeutic options for the treatment of HSA, with none currently providing a significant opportunity for long-term survival.