Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us for Cathryn’s presentation about the future of the Canine Genetics Centre at the University of Cambridge. The presentation and Q&A session were recorded and can you watch/listen to it below or via our YouTube channel. Please feel free to share far-and-wide. We have also provided a written summary of the current situation.
Summary
The broad aim of the Canine Genetics Research Centre, currently known as the Kennel Club Genetics Centre, is to identify genetic variants underpinning canine diseases and to develop tools to prevent, diagnose and manage these diseases in the pet dog population.
The genetic health of countless dogs worldwide has been improved as a result of the Centre’s research. Moreover, many, many more will benefit in the future it from our ongoing programmes of research, all of which address debilitating, painful and progressive diseases, and some of which affect the UK’s most popular breeds.However, all of our research is currently vulnerable as a result of the significant and immediate funding challenge that the Centre is facing.
The Centre has benefitted from financial support from a range of funders over the years, but by far our most significant benefactors have been the Kennel Club and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, who have contributed over £3.5 million to support our research. However, the Kennel Club is unable to continue to provide general financial support for the Kennel Club Genetics Centre going forward from April 2024, and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust is also currently unable to support us.
So, we are reaching out to our stakeholders – dog owners, breeders and breed custodians – for immediate funds to support our research.
We need to raise £345,000 to retain the current research team, who between them have over 124 years of experience in the field of canine genetics. We are working hard to identify alternate sponsors, so that stakeholders will not need to contribute such significant funds in the future, but this will inevitably take time.
Please, if you are able to, consider donating to support the Genetics Centre.
Other ways you can help include sharing a link to the presentation and by using our genetic testing service, CAGT, all proceeds of which are used to support our research.
For more information, or to discuss fundraising ideas, please contact us.
Thank you.
