FCRCI: Research

Cancer Research

The Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation is currently funding three cancer studies that investigate Malignant Histiocytosis/Histiocytic Sarcoma and also Soft-Tissue Sarcomas in the Flat-Coated Retriever. Dogs with these cancers, and also healthy older dogs, are needed as study participants. To read a summary of these studies, please go to www.fcrsainc.org/health/cancerstudy.html. If you choose to participate, the Foundation will reimburse up to $100 for tissue samples you send, and up to $50 for blood samples (receipts required, contact Cheryl Kistner at kistnec@yahoo.com).

If you have a healthy dog over the age of 10 years who has never had cancer, please consider contributing a blood sample to Dr. Elaine Ostrander's study. If your dog has had blood drawn at one of the specialties for the Animal Health Trust, his/her blood is already available for this study, so you will only need to complete a couple simple forms. These forms are available on the FCRSA website or through Dr. Ostrander.

If you suspect that your dog has cancer, many people are ready to help you during this heart-breaking time. For advice and help about study participation, you may contact the Cancer Studies Support Team (FCR-Cancer-Support@yahoogroups.com) at their private and confidential group address, or you may call or e-mail any of the individual Team members (contact information is listed at www.fcrsainc.org/health/cancersupportteam.html). If you prefer, you may also contact any of the researchers directly (again, contact information is in the study summary). If you or your vet suspects a Soft-Tissue Sarcoma or Histiocytic Sarcoma, please contact the Support Team or Dr. Breen's study prior to biopsy. A tissue sample can be collected at biopsy for the study as well as for your veterinarian's pathology lab. This can be helpful to you, as you will receive a second opinion from Dr. Breen's lab on the diagnosis.

Participating in these cancer studies could make a difference for the future health of all Flat-Coated Retrievers. Thank you for taking the time to learn about these studies and for considering participation.

The Cancer Studies Support Team

Other Research

Flat-Coated Retriever Injury Surveillance Study

The purpose of this research project is to obtain athletic injury and illness data from Flat Coated Retrievers. The data will be collected over a one year period using a survey and will be loaded into a database. The data will be analyzed to provide reports of injury and illness statistics and trends. The reports will be generated to aid in the achievement of the highest safety standards for Flat-Coated Retrievers. The reports will be issued to the National Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation for disbursement to members and other relevant organizations. In addition, through further research the information will lead to improved techniques of injury prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation to meet the needs of Flat-Coated Retriever athletes.

More information can be found at: www.fcrsainc.org/health/fcrinjury.html or in this flyer