The SCWTCA Board has received a recommendation from the SCWTCA Health Committee to engage in a longitudinal study of the breed by the National Institute of Health (NIH). While Board members are very excited about such a prospect, we know that its success would depend upon the long-term commitment of the membership, especially those who are active breeders and owners.
If you are a SCWT breeder or have a SCWT between the ages of 1-4 years, or plan to breed in the next two years, please take the time to read about this NIH study and contact the Board at: Board@scwtca. org if you think you might be eligible and willing to participate in such a study. The Board needs to make a decision on
this project soon, so please contact us expressing your interest and thoughts as soon as possible.
The study has been proposed by Dr. Heidi Parker who presented the Educational Seminar for SCWTCA at the 2007 National Specialty at Montgomery. She has requested DNA for 1000 SCWTs from 1-4 years of age and the opportunity to follow their health history for 10 years. Owners will be asked to supply a blood sample and respond to health survey questions annually. NIH has state-of-the- art facilities and is not requesting funds from SCWTCA to perform this research; just the collection and shipping of the samples and information requested.
This year SCWTCA supported numerous blood draws for the Canine Phenome Project (CPP) that yielded approximately 700 DNA blood samples. In two of these blood draw clinics the sample was split with a portion sent to NIH and to the CPP database, so these two projects are not in conflict, but can assist each other.
The research on the NIH samples would be conducted in the prestigious Ostrander Canine Genomics Laboratory within the National Institutes for Health, Bethesda, Maryland. The Ostrander Lab has been a leader in the field of canine genetics since its inception over 15 years ago. They built the first linkage map of the dog and completed at least five iterations that yielded a map of over 4500 genetic markers. NIH intends to do genetic analysis of emerging diseases. Their lab has published more than 90 papers on canine genetics and wrote the white paper that resulted in the multi-million dollar canine genome sequence completed in 2005. They currently have active projects focused on finding genes for several types of cancer, hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, osteoarthritis and a variety of complex physical traits. Finally, they are interested in understanding the architecture of the canine genome and the historical relationships between breeds.
This is an ambitious undertaking. SCWTCA can only provide these samples with the commitment of the breeders, owners and the club membership. Let us hear your thoughts before August 1 by contacting us at Board@scwtca. org.
Betty Chapman, President
SCWTCA 2007-8
The Lifetime Study at the National Institutes of Health follows more than 200 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT) over a ten-year span, collecting information about their health, wellness, and living environment. Dog owners who entered their SCWT into this study completed a yearly survey that updates the health status of their dog and any preventative care it received. Completion of this health questionnaire was critical to the success of the study, as it provided the information necessary to track health risks within the breed. This information will be combined with the DNA samples supplied by each participant to identify the genetic contributors to hereditary disorders found in the breed. The Ostrander lab at NIH is committed to canine health and believes that collecting a lifetime of information will provide a wealth of knowledge that will improve the well being of both SCWT and all purebred dogs.