This announcement comes from the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

The Van Andel Research Institute, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is pleased to share that we have received a “Grand Opportunities” (GO) grant from the National Institutes of Health. This is enabling the Institute to expand its canine cancer studies, which started with a project investigating hemangiosarcoma in Clumber spaniels 18 months ago, into a much broader research program.

We are launching a new center of excellence in canine genetics and genomics. The first and most important program is the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium (CHCC), which is headed by Drs. Jeff Trent (TGen), Nick Duesbery (Van Andel Research Institute), and Paul Meltzer (National Cancer Institute/NIH). The program is an unprecedented alliance of scientists, veterinarians and physicians.

Drs. Duesbery and Froman are intensely focused on recruiting canine cancer patients for the study through a variety of clinical outreach programs. Samples from canine patients will not only allow the researchers to identify genes responsible for breed-specific susceptibilities (such as hemangiosarcoma in Clumber spaniels and osteosarcoma in Greyhounds), but also to translate these discoveries into new and more precise diagnostics and therapeutics for both canine and human cancer patients. The ultimate goal is to take personalized medicine for dogs to unscaled heights!

The CHCC has been developed to investigate five initial cancers in dogs, which also affect people. The first five cancers we’ll be researching are:

Hemangiosarcoma

Osteosarcoma

Lymphoma

Malignant histiocytosis

Melanoma (oral and digital)

In order to move forward, we need your help. The Institute will be studying only naturally occurring tumors, so we need the assistance of owners with dogs who develop any of the above types of cancer. We are requesting fresh (NOT in formalin) tumor samples when the dog has surgery, a biopsy, or is euthanized. We also need 3 mls of blood in an EDTA (purple top) tube. If a tumor sample is not immediately available (a dog who has had surgery, for example), a blood sample is still useful.

If your dog is scheduled for surgery, please contact VARI ahead of time so we can FedEx a tumor collection kit to your veterinarian. You can contact the CHCC at 616.234.5569. You may also email Dr. Froman at roe.froman@vai.org.

Consent forms and more information for veterinarians can be accessed and downloaded from our website, www.vai.org/helpingdogs. In addition, we are collecting DNA samples from a wide variety of healthy, purebred dogs, for use as controls. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Dingos, one of the oldest breeds

Contrary to an earlier study that suggested dogs were first domesticated in East Asia, scientists now believe that dogs were first domesticated from wolves somewhere in the Middle East.

The New York Times has all the details and a nifty graphic.

Jack Russell Terrier magnet from Dogstuff

The open-access journal BMC Biology has its preliminary report available. They conclude that the small-dog mutation arose after the domestication of dogs, but not long after. Genetic similarities between all small dog breeds and Middle Eastern gray wolves suggest that smaller breeds originated there, apparently from domesticating the smaller wolves.

Deacon, a German Shepherd, was found running in traffic, 600 miles from home. An implanted microchip gave authorities his owners’ identities.

"Underground" tracking on display

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The 2010 International Cluster of Dog Shows, going on this weekend in Chicago, will include a focus on terriers, their history, breeding, and underground tracking skills.

The Chicago Sun-Times has more.

Ricochet was born into a program that trained service dogs. She was great at learning to turn on lights, open doors, pull down zippers, and so on.

But there was a problem … one that ultimately led through sadness, to a new, joyful direction for Richochet’s life.

George at home

After some dispute over the proper title-holder, the Guinness folk’s official measurements have given George the crown.

And they’re looking for record-setting pets in other categories as well, so yours could still be a contender.

The Los Angeles Times explains (agreeing that, yes, the dogs have more dignity).