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First ACVIM Foundation Fellow Chosen
The ACVIM Foundation is proud to announce the recipient of its first Fellowship Opportunity. We were pleased to receive several high quality submissions and we are honored to announce our first Fellow:
Dr. Jennifer A. Ginn, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mentors: Dr. Lauren Trepanier, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP and Dr. Ruthanne Chun, DACVIM (Oncology)
Project Title: Glutathione-S-transferase polymorphisms in dogs: association with risk for lymphoma and response to chemotherapy
Project Description: Lymphoma is a form of cancer that is diagnosed commonly in dogs. Although lymphoma is often initially responsive to chemotherapy drugs, long term survival in dogs is rare. Lymphoma also affects people, and may be caused in part by environmental pollutants. Defects in enzymes, such as one called GST, that break down environmental pollutants are associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, as well as other cancers, in people. These enzyme defects are also associated with better initial response to chemotherapy in humans. There is evidence of comparable canine GST defects; however, the association between these defects and lymphoma has not been evaluated in dogs.
Objective: The researchers' goal is to determine whether defects in GST put dogs at risk for lymphoma, and whether they are associated with better response to treatment. Our findings may provide more information about the risk of development of lymphoma in dogs, and may help to provide pet owners with better information regarding prognosis and response to treatment.
Congratulations to Dr. Ginn and we wish her the best of luck with her project.
