The Canine Genetics Centre is proud to be a part of one of the UK’s leading Veterinary schools. Cambridge Vet school not only matriculates incredible vets year upon year, but they are also at the forefront of some of the best research that is currently happening in Veterinary science. Earlier this week, we were honoured to share some of our own research and to learn about other inspiring projects during the department’s research afternoon. Continue reading
In January of this year we published our research into an inherited eye disease called retinopathy with vitamin E deficiency (RVED) in English Cocker Spaniels. You may have heard of this disease before under a different name, perhaps central progressive retinal atrophy or retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy. Continue reading
In collaboration with James Oliver, head of ophthalmology at Dick White Referrals, we have been researching retinopathy with vitamin E deficiency (RVED) in the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) for a number of years. It has been a challenging project, so we are over the moon to report that we have identified the variant associated with the disease, and all of our findings have now been published in G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics.
Oliver, J. A. C., Stanbury, K., Schofield, E., McLaughlin, B., & Mellersh, C. S. (2025). A TTPA deletion is associated with retinopathy with vitamin E deficiency in the English Cocker Spaniel dog. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf016
The Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK and so it is unsurprising that a number of inherited diseases have been reported over the years in this breed including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Retinal Dysplasia (RD) and Retinopathy with Vitamin E Deficiency (RVED). A DNA test for PRA (prcd) has been available for a long time and so this disease is now, fortunately, very rare in this breed. Very recently, the Canine Genetics Centre has also solved the cause of RVED in this breed and so, with the use of DNA testing, this disease should be easy to eradicate in a few generations. Continue reading
Last weekend we attended one of the largest Dog Agility shows in the UK, the Kennel Club International Agility Festival (KCIAF), where we met up with over 100 Cocker Spaniels. We were collecting data for research into Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) as part of Bruno’s PhD. Continue reading
The Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) is excited to announce the launch of a new DNA test through Canine Genetic Testing (CAGT) for Retinopathy with Vitamin E Deficiency (RVED) in Cocker Spaniels. Our discovery, made in collaboration with leading veterinary ophthalmologists, could have significant health implications for Cocker Spaniels, and not only those born in the future but potentially some that are alive today. Continue reading
Last month we told you about an eye disease variant we recently identified in the English Shepherd Breed. Today we wanted to give you a bit more information on the research we do into inherited eye diseases (IED), all of which is now carried out under the CRIEDD (Consortium to Research Inherited Eye Diseases in Dogs ) project. Continue reading
