Financial Support for CM/SM Research by Dr Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler

 

 

This research is primarily focused on finding the genetic basis for this condition because finding the gene/s responsible for CM/SM will enhance understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular pathogenic mechanisms for better diagnosis, prognosis and clinical management of the conditions. Most importantly it will be possible to develop a genetic test to identify carriers and devise breeding strategies to reduce or eliminate this devastating condition in the CKCS and other affected breeds.
It involves two aspects
1) identifying the phenotypic variations that occur in the disorder
2) collecting suitable DNA of these phenotypic variations

First and foremost we would like to acknowledge the individual owners, breeders and veterinarians who have given their own time and effort towards the research in addition to those who donated money to help Cavaliers.  The research is underpinned by owners and breeders who have paid for their dogs’ MRI scans and this valuable and ongoing contribution should be and is recognised. Grants and Donations more than £100 or equivalent listed below.

2000 - 2003 unfunded.
Aims: to establish that SM was inherited using pedigree analysis. Pedigrees were collected and a genealogy database was set up with SM affected dogs and their ancestors.

2004  DNA Collection and phenotype clarification
i) Boehringer Ingelheim Limited (manufacturers of Vetmedin®) funded the cost of a diagnostic test to identify macrothrombocytosis in Cavaliers that belonged to UK Cavalier Club Members. The left over blood was stored for DNA extraction. This was in conjunction with the Club’s Heart/Eye Clinics organised by the Cavalier Club
ii) UK DNA Archive for Companion Animals undertook the considerable task DNA extraction and storing of for over 500 blood samples with an estimated cost of £10,000 
iii) $2000 (Australian) received from the CKCS Club of Victoria. – these funds were used for a computer tomography study of the caudal fossa in CKCS with and without Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. The results of this pilot study will be used towards further research in the future.
 
2005 Genome Research
iv) $8,000 from the Cavalier Health Foundation  Grant #104 (Scroll down the page to see all the grants) (USA) for the  “Study of the Successful Collection and Archiving of DNA from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Enabling a Genome Scan to be performed”. Dr Clare Rusbridge; Penny Knowler, Dr Berge A Minassian, Dr Guy A. Rouleau, Dr Diane Shelton.
v) $1,000 from Christi Scarpino who owns a Boston terrier called Hope diagnosed with syringomyelia.  Christi used an extremely imaginative array of fundraising ideas including selling cherished collectables from Boston terrier lovers on EBay!
vi) $450 Kendall Barker also from sales from EBay
vii) Archiving and extraction of DNA for over 200 dogs (total cost estimated at about $8,000).  Funded by University of Utrecht with thanks to Dr P Mandigers and Prof. J Rothuizen.
viii) £575 gross was raised by the sale of the DVDs made by Penny Knowler of the Lecture and Q & A on Syringomyelia by C Rusbridge to the UK Cavalier Club, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Cambs, UK.

 

2006 Pathogenesis of the Disease
ix) £7021.92 from UK CKCS Club contributing to the cost of MRI  scans for 24 dogs (Stone Lion Veterinary Centre and Cambridge University). In addition to determining the CM/SM status of the dog the study also established whether the position of the dog's head in the MRI receiving coil could affect the apparent severity of Chiari-like malformations
x) £1430.from Clinical Research Outreach Program (Cambridge University) funding a study investigating the association between pain and spinal cord dorsal horn damage by syringomyelia (Stone Lion Veterinary Centre and Cambridge University Veterinary School) .
xi) 4,000 Rand received from The Cavalier Club of the Rand.
xii) SM DNA Fund was initiated primarily to sponsor dogs for an MRI scan.  These dogs are identified by the geneticists as pivotal in the search for the gene. A benefit to the owner was acquiring information for breeding purposes and the process was confidential.  Cost about $1,100 to scan a dog in USA, £200 -£500 for ‘mini scan’ in the UK and about €200 in Netherlands

 

2007  Phenotypic Information

xiii) $1,250 from CavalierTalk and Cavalier Connection Members led by Bruce Hassig with the aim of sponsoring  the cost of MRI for dogs in the USA
xiv) $500 consisting of matched donations from David Harwood, Sandy Smith, Carol Fowler and Gerri Prior Carter in addition to the proceeds of sales of the  Syringomyelia 2007 symposia double CD produced by Karlin Lillington (available from Cafepress - includes all the lectures and Q & A sessions). These funds were also to sponsor the cost of MRI for dogs in the USA
xv) €800 from French Cavalier Club (FCKC) founded by Isabelle Barthes
xvi) $8,000 from the “For the Love of Ollie Fund” (FTLO) (pioneered by Sandy Smith) and in this instance dedicated towards research into Chiari malformation in the Griffon Bruxellois
xvii) $5,000 Frank and Lee Pieterse – dedicated towards research into Chiari malformation in the Griffon Bruxellois.
xviii) £3,000 gross sale from 200 additional printed copies of Dr Rusbridge’s Doctoral Thesis with special thanks to Marselle Stout for her help in the USA and Carol Fowler in the UK.

2008 
xix) $86,100 Grant # 954:  American Kennel Club Health Foundation and sponsored by ACKCSC and The Cavalier Club USA: 
Identification of genes causing Chiari- like Malformation with Syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Principal Investigator Dr. Zoha Kibar, University of Montreal (MU) Canada. Co-investigators: Dr Guy Rouleau, and Dr Marie-Pierre Dube (MU), Dr Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler, SLVC, UK
xx) $104,000. Grant #1004. American Kennel Club Health Foundation with matching funds American Brussels Griffon Association, Griffon Bruxellois Breeders Association, Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria: Syringomyelia in the Brussels Griffon (Griffon Bruxellois): Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings, Clinicopathology, and Prevalence. Principal Investigators: Dr Marc Kent and Dr Simon Platt, Georgia University, USA Co-investigators: Dr Scott Schatzberg, (GU) Dr Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler (SLVC, UK)
xxi) £1,575 Plant Sale ‘Cavalier Friends’ organised by Sue Robinson and friends. This provides Bursaries for research into CM/SM by young graduates. The first project awarded has been to  Colin Driver MRCVS , Royal Veterinary College into his study on Comparison between skull and brain volume in syringomyelia affected and unaffected Cavaliers
xxii) £750 Grant from Cavalier Club UK: Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in Syringomyelia. Investigation by Dr C Rusbridge (SLVC) and Prof N Jeffery (Cambridge)
xxiii) £2,500 Griffon Bruxellois Club 1897 (ring-fenced for UK dogs)
xxiv) €1,075 French Cavalier Club (FCKC) (Isabelle Barthes)
xxv) £100 each from Joy Denman and Carol Fowler (in lieu of Health Prize which UK CKCS Club rejected)

 

2009
xxvi) $100 from Celestial Designs - this donation was used towards buying buccal swabs for SM DNA Collection
xxvii) £380 via Carol Fowler who had received numerous donations towards research following airing of the documentary “Pedigree Dog Exposed” This donation funded MRI screening.  
xxviii) $9,500 from the FTLO Fund. This donation has been be used to subsidize MRI screening of Canadian dogs over 6 years.
xxix) £300 from Cavalier Friends to continue the Student Bursary scheme.
xxx) £583.22 from Griffon Bruxellois Club 1897 donation from  
xxxi) £300 West Chiltington Cavalier Club

£100 donation from Gerri Pryor Carter (USA)

 

2010

£250 donation from Mr K Ashley (UK)

£300 Cavalier Friends (Sue Robinson) for the Bursary Fund

£150  running total so far from sales of very popular Lavender Bags. These are made by Lucy Alboni who grows the lavender herself in the garden

 

Money sent to Montreal specifically for our genome research.
Dr Guy Rouleau, MD PhD FRCP(C) Director, Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center and The Center for the Study of Brain Diseases, FAO Dr Zoha Kibar, 3175 Cote-Ste-Catherine, Room A711, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5 Canada.). The money was dedicated to canine CM/SM Research.
2008
$1,000 Cavalier Club of Canada
$3,500 The UK CKCS Club

 

2009
Ann Conway Trust Grant

Initiatives supported by SM DNA Research Fund.

• Our priority has been to fund MRIs and other phenotypic tests for dogs which have been  idenitifed to enhance the genome research.  These have included Cavaliers, Griffon Bruxellois and King Charles Spaniels and a Havanese. Countries involved include UK, France, Netherlands, Finland, Australia, USA and Canada.. Most recently we have been focusing on CKCS ‘controls’ over 6 years that do NOT have SM.
• Sponsorship of Syringomyelia 2007 Conference  ‘Ask the Experts’ session
• Collaboration with Dr Sarah Blott to determine heritability of CM/SM
• BVA/KC scheme for MRI screening protocol – funding of the preliminary meeting.
• DNA buccal swab collection – purchase of  Genotek saliva kits and postage.
• Student Bursaries investigating pathogenesis of Syringomyelia.