Dr Cathryn Mellersh, who Heads the Canine Genetics Centre (CGC), has been working in the field of canine genetics for more than 30 years. During that time she has, inevitably, amassed a lot of expertise that she puts to effective use both within the CGC and beyond. Cathryn is a member of the Hereditary Disease Committee (HDC) of the (WSAVA) and last week she travelled to Rio de Janeiro, alongside six other members of the committee, to attend the 50th WSAVA congress. The committee includes veterinarians and geneticists from around the world, each contributing specific canine and/or feline expertise.
The HDC, Chaired by Dr Jerold Bell, works to help WSAVA members promote the healthy breeding of dogs and cats and control the increase in hereditary diseases and genetic predispositions in dogs and cats. Given the importance of hereditary disease as a welfare issue in companion animals, the HDC works hard to educate and encourage veterinarians, veterinary teams and breeders to adopt ‘health-conscious’ breeding. The committee also works to ensure the optimum use of genetic testing and counselling to control hereditary diseases and genetic predispositions in dogs and cats.
The WSAVA World Congress is a global affair with members of the veterinary community from around world coming together to learn, share ideas and build relationships. This year there were in excess of 5,000 attendees from 90 countries taking part in multiple workshops, talks and exhibitions in Rio de Janeiro. Next year the congress comes a bit closer to home in Warsaw, Poland.
While in Rio the HDC discussed a wide range of ongoing projects, including the development of guidelines for minimal competency standards for veterinarians within the area of hereditary diseases, genetic testing, and genetic counselling; a project to investigate how commercial genetic testing laboratories decide which DNA tests to offer, and which breeds to offer them to and, excitingly, the recording of a new series of podcasts exploring hereditary diseases in dogs and cats. The first episode is available to listen to now, and we will shortly be able to share the podcast that Cathryn recorded for the series as well.
Cathryn’s attendance at the WSAVA congress illustrates how members of the CGC contribute their considerable experience expertise to improving the health and welfare of dogs, not only in the UK but on a truly global scale.
