Epilepsy in dogs is a common and debilitating condition. Currently standard MRI techniques are often unable to identify the underlying cause for the seizures. Here at the Johnson lab we have adapted advanced MRI scanning techniques, commonly used in humans, to evaluate the brain of the dog. This project aims to use these techniques to evaluate the brain of dogs with drug resistant epilepsy.

Goals: The goal of this project is to improve our ability to identify lesions in the brain of dogs with drug resistant epilepsy. Dogs enrolled in this project will undergo a full neurological evaluation, blood analysis, examination of their brain using an advanced MRI scan. Owners will receive full reports of their dog’s neurological status and MRI findings.

Eligibility: Your dog must:

1. Be aged between 1 and 6 years of age
2. Weigh between 7-50kg
3. Have a standard skull conformation. Unfortunately we are unable to include brachycephalic breeds at this stage.
4. Have a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy confirmed by a specialist veterinary neurologist. We will require you to provide your dog’s medical history.
5. Be classified as having drug resistance. This means that they continue to seizure (> 1 seizure/month) while being on treatment of a minimum of two appropriate anti-epileptic drugs.
6. Be normal between seizures with no evidence of concurrent or systemic disease or illness.

Compensation: There is no cost to you to participate in this study.

Owner Responsibilities: You will be asked to bring your dog to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals once. You will drop your dog off in the morning and pick up in the later afternoon. 

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact vet-research@cornell.edu, ideally with copies of your dog's records, to schedule an appointment.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Philippa J. Johnson

This study is sponsored by the American Kennel Club

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Although uncommon, it is a highly aggressive form of cancer and often kills dogs quickly, particularly because we don’t have many drugs that we can use to treat the leukemia. Great strides have been made in humans with acute myeloid leukemia, which is similar to the disease we see in dogs.

New treatments have been developed for people with acute myeloid leukemia, patients live longer with the disease than they used to (most people usually died from the disease within 3 years of diagnosis), and the disease can be more accurately divided into subtypes, which provide better information on treatment and prognosis. In fact, treatments are often tailored to the specific subtype of leukemia in the patient, which is now called precision medicine. All of these improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and prognostication of acute myeloid leukemia in humans have been made possible by genetic testing and identification of specific genetic defects or mutations that are responsible for the tumor.

However, unlike humans, we know very little about the genetic mutations that underlie acute myeloid leukemia in dogs, which is the goal of this study. In a multi-institutional study involving blood cancer specialists in veterinary and human medicine, we will perform in-depth genetic analysis of 50 dogs with acute myeloid leukemia by sequencing the genes within the tumor. Relevant genetic mutations will be identified by comparing gene sequences of the cancer cells to those of normal tissue, which we will retrieve from standard mouth swabs. From this genetic analysis, we hope to identify mutations in acute myeloid leukemia in dogs that would be responsive to newer treatments or that we could target for development of new drugs. We also hope to more accurately classify dogs into subtypes, which would help us better inform owners of prognosis and treat the dogs with more appropriate therapy, thereby prolonging their life, just like we have in humans. 

Eligibility: This is a sample-collection only study for dogs with acute leukemia. Your dog must have evidence of an acute leukemia on a complete blood count (CBC).

Compensation: The grant will cover the cost of specific tests (such as flow cytometry) to confirm the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia.

Owner Responsibilities: You will be asked to allow us to collect a small amount of additional blood and a mouth swab for DNA, to sign a consent form, and to send us a copy of your dog's medical records. There are no further obligations or responsibilities.

Principal Investigator: Tracy Stokol, BVSc, DACVP

Sponsor: This research is funded by a grant from the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center and the AKC Canine Health Foundation (link is to an external site) 

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact the clinical trials coordinator at 607.253.3060, or email vet-research@cornell.edu. Your referring veterinarian may also contact the hospital or clinical trials coordinator to either refer your pet or to arrange to send us samples. If you are participating remotely, we will send you or your vet a collection kit, consent form, and prepaid shipping label.

Other Participating Institutions: Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, CT, Rochester Specialist and Emergency Services, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Tennessee, and University of Georgia.

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common, and often life-threatening, blood disorder in dogs. In this condition, the dog’s immune system attacks its own red blood cells, leading to a severe anemia that is treated with immunosuppressive drugs. However, affected dogs suffer from more than just anemia. They also have over-active clotting systems that lead to abnormal blood clot formation. These blood clots can be fatal if they block off the blood supply and delivery of nutrients and oxygen to vital tissues, causing serious organ damage and failure. We now treat dogs with blood thinners to try and prevent these clots from forming, but dogs with IMHA continue to suffer from lethal blood clots, indicating that we need to identify more effective therapy.

When clots form in the body, they are gradually broken down by enzymes – this normal process is called fibrinolysis. If clots are not broken down properly, they will persist in the blood vessels, causing tissue damage. We suspect that clot breakdown is defective in dogs with IMHA, leading to persistence of blood clots. We believe the decreased fibrinolysis is caused by too much of a blood protein, called PAI-1. PAI-1 protein is the main inhibitor of clot breakdown and if it is too high, clots remain in blood vessels and prevent normal blood flow. Our theory that high PAI-1 levels prevent normal clot breakdown is based on recently published data on dogs with IMHA. These dogs had high levels of the PAI-1 precursor (mRNA) in the circulation – in fact, the mRNA was up to 17-times higher than in healthy dogs. Our preliminary studies have also shown decreased clot breakdown in blood samples from dogs with IMHA.

In this proposal, we plan to determine whether dogs with IMHA have high levels of active PAI-1 protein (not just mRNA levels) as a major cause of reduced clot breakdown. In this project, we will collect blood samples from 40 dogs with IMHA and 40 healthy control dogs and measure PAI-1 protein activity levels and mRNA levels, and perform laboratory tests of clot breakdown. We will also test whether a drug that blocks PAI-1 activity can improve fibrinolysis in these test samples.  Importantly, the blood thinning drugs currently given to dogs with IMHA to prevent clot formation do not affect clot breakdown at all. If we find that high PAI-1 levels result in reduced clot breakdown in dogs with IMHA, then PAI-1 inhibitor drugs will open up new possibilities for more effective treatment. Our goal is to improve on current IMHA treatment so that abnormal blood clot formation no longer limits dogs’ survival. 

Eligibility: Only dogs who have not been treated for IMHA with immunosuppressive drugs (such as prednisone or other steroids) or anticoagulants (such as aspirin or heparin) before enrollment are eligible.

Compensation: There will be no charge for the additional tests run on your pet.

Owner Responsibilities: You will be asked to allow us to collect a small amount of additional blood on your dog. There are no further obligations or responsibilities.

Principal Investigator: Tracy Stokol, BVSc, DACVP

Sponsor: This research is funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (link is to an external site) 

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact the internal medicine service, the emergency service, or the clinical trials coordinator at 607.253.3060, or email vet-research@cornell.edu. Your referring veterinarian may also contact the hospital to refer your pet.

Other Participating Institutions: Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, CT, Rochester Specialist and Emergency Services, Auburn University, and University of Minnesota.

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common disease that affects all breeds of dogs and can be fatal. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body makes antibodies that recognize your dog's own red blood cells. These antibodies damage the red cells leading to their removal from circulation - a process called hemolysis.

Goal: The purpose of this study is to determine if OKV-1001 is safe and more effective than prednisone alone for the treatment of IMHA. OKV-1001 is a new formulation of a drug called mycophenolic acid (MPA) that is used in the treatment of IMHA. This is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

Eligibility: Your dog must be diagnosed with IMHA that is not believed to be caused by any medications or vaccines, be >12 months of age, be able to take oral medications, and have been treated with glucocorticoids (such as prednisone) for less than seven days prior to enrollment. Your dog must not be on any other immunosuppressive medication for other conditions (such as atopic dermatitis, etc) or have a previous diagnosis of IMHA.

Compensation: Your dog will benefit from the provision of diagnostic testing and follow-up monitoring at zero cost to you. The drug or placebo will also be provided free of charge. You will be responsible for all costs related to standard-of-care treatment of IMHA including hospitalization, blood transfusions, costs of non-study medications, etc., however you will receive a 10% hospital discount on these costs. Any tests or procedures unrelated to the study are the responsibility of the owner.

Owner Responsibilities: If you agree to let your dog participate in this study, your dog will receive the same diagnostic tests and treatments as for any other dog with this disease and will receive standard of care therapies. In addition, your dog will be randomly assigned to receive either OKV-1001 or a placebo. You will need to return to Cornell for multiple visits for follow up, similar to any patient undergoing care for IMHA.

Principal Investigators: John Loftus, PhD, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), and Robert Goggs, BVSc, DACVECC, DECVECC, PhD, MRCVS

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact the internal medicine service, the emergency service, or the clinical trials coordinator at 607.253.3060, or email vet-research@cornell.edu. Your referring veterinarian may also contact the hospital to refer your pet. 

The clinical signs in some cats with chronic enteropathy (chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea) can be reversed with dietary management using a specially formulated diet. It is not clear why some cats respond to diet, or what the optimal composition of the diet for cats with chronic enteropathy should be. We want to know if diets containing proteins that are selected to minimize immune responses and fortified in Vitamin B₁₂ and natural anti-inflammatory agents (prebiotics and curcumin) are better than conventional diets for cats with chronic enteropathy.

The diagnosis of chronic enteropathy can include cats with chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea, cats with biopsy-diagnosed IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and cats with small cell GI lymphoma.

Eligibility: Your cat must have signs of chronic GI disease (of more than 3 weeks duration), have had non-GI causes of vomiting and/or diarrhea ruled out, and must be amenable to blood sampling at the times required by the study. 

Compensation: The study food will be provided to you free of charge during the initial 12 week study and for 6 months after the study if you continue to provide clinical progress reports. You will receive a 10% hospital discount on all study-related visits.

Owner responsibilities: Your cat will be given one of three commercial diets that have been formulated to be more digestible, with two of the three utilizing the specially selected protein ± natural anti-inflammatory nutrients. You will feed this diet exclusively for a minimum of 2 weeks and up to a maximum of 12 weeks if the response is favorable. All treats and supplements must be discontinued prior to your cat’s enrollment.  You will be required to bring your cat to Cornell for the initial appointment including a brief exam, urinalysis, fecal examination and blood work and back to Cornell at 6 and 12 weeks after beginning the diet for additional brief exams, urinalysis, fecal examination and blood work (follow up at your local veterinarian may be possible in some cases). You will also fill out a survey related to your cat’s quality of life and diet performance each week during the dietary trial.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kenneth Simpson, BVM&S, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact the internal medicine service at 607.253.3060 for an appointment or email the clinical trials coordinator at vet-research@cornell.edu. Your referring veterinarian may also contact the hospital to refer your pet.

Hemangiosarcoma is the most common splenic cancer diagnosed in dogs. The standard of care treatment is splenectomy (surgery) followed by doxorubicin chemotherapy, but long-term survival remains poor. We are continuously looking for additional well-tolerated treatments that may prolong survival for dogs with this disease.

Goals: Temozolomide is an oral chemotherapy drug that is well-tolerated in dogs and used to treat a variety of other cancers in dogs and people. The results of this study will allow us to determine if dogs that receive temozolomide and doxorubicin do better than dogs that just receive doxorubicin alone.

Eligibility: Your dog must have a splenic hemangiosarcoma that has been surgically removed either at a local veterinarian or at the CUHA. The diagnosis must have been confirmed with histopathology.

Compensation: If your dog qualifies for the study and you agree to participate, a $1000 credit will be applied to your bill to help pay for the initial staging costs. Additionally, a $50 credit will be applied to your bill at each visit for chemotherapy administration. The study drug (temozolomide) will be provided to you at no cost to you. A 10% hospital discount will be applied to all study-related visits. All other costs are your responsibility as outlined by the project outline.

Owner Responsibilities: You must administer study medications as directed and you must return your dog to the CUHA for follow-up appontments according to a specific timeline that will be provided to you.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cheryl Balkman, DVM, DACVIM

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please call the clinical trials coordinator at 607.253.3060, or email vet-research@cornell.edu

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulse-dosed radiofrequency (PRF) are therapies used in people to treat chronic pain, including osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Neither has been researched in dogs for chronic pain management but could be highly effective, long-lasting means of relieving OA pain when other treatments fail.

Eligibility: Dogs seen by the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) with stifle (knee) pain that is difficult to control with other treatments.

Compensation:  Any tests or procedures unrelated to the study are the responsibility of the owner.

Owner Responsibilities: If you agree to let your dog participate in this study, you will be responsible to bring your dog to the CUHA for the procedure which will involve your dog being walked on a force-mat walkway to assess how he/she uses his/her limbs. Afterwards your dog with either be heavily sedated or anesthetized for the radiofrequency procedure and can go home the same day. We ask you then bring your dog back to be walked across the force-mat again at 2 and 4 weeks, and again at 3 months after the procedure. You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire at each visit.

Drs. Gerlinde Van de Walle and Scott Coonrod are investigating the DNA of feline mammary cancer cells and how it affects tumor growth. While this is not a clinical study it has the potential to improve our understanding of how feline mammary cancer develops and also to lay the groundwork for new ways to treat mammary cancer in cats.

ELIGIBILITY: Samples are needed from both normal and cancerous feline mammary gland tissue from female cats.

COMPENSATION: No compensation is available for participation in the study.

CONTACT/SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT: For more information on the study and to fill out the mammary tissue donation form please visit the study's website.

Dr. Gary Whittaker, of the Whittaker Lab, in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, is continuing the regional study of the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus and how it infects cats. The aim is to reach a better understanding of this virus in order to formulate a successful method of treatment and to work towards a future diagnostic test. 

ELIGIBILITY: Currently the lab is looking for whole body donations of suspected cats with FIP who are recently deceased.  

**Please note that due to the laboratory testing involved samples from locations close to Cornell and the Ithaca area are of particular interest. However, samples from any location are also accepted.

COMPENSATION: There is no compensation for assisting with the study but participation might help future cats diagnosed with FIP.

CONTACT: For questions on qualifications or more information on how you can help with the project email fcovstudy@cornell.edu or visit the Whittaker lab website. 

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