Canine Patient Recruitment

As of September 2023

If you would like additional information regarding a clinical trial, please contact us at:

Email: VeterinaryClinicalTrials@purdue.edu
Phone: (765) 496-9715

If you believe your pet is eligible for a specific study, we recommend that you contact your veterinarian and request a referral. However, a referral may not be required to participate in some clinical trials.

To make an appointment at the Small Animal Hospital please call (765) 494-1107.

Behavior

use brain imaging to measure human-dog interaction

  • Description: Purdue Animal Behavior Research is recruiting dog owners and their dogs for a study investigating human-animal interaction. In this study, healthy adult dog owners will undergo a laboratory inducing stress test during two separate visits that are 3-6 weeks apart. The owner will interact with both a familiar and unfamiliar friendly dog during the post-stress test recovery period as the researchers evaluates the owner’s brain response and a stress response salivary cortisol test. Researchers will also observe the owner’s dog behavior and physiological response to analyze how the dog processes the human- dog interaction.
  • Eligibility: For You: You've been your dog's companion for 6+ months. Aged 18-55 years. No circulatory/panic issues, and not on specific meds. For Your Dog: Friendly and calm (no aggressive behavior or severe separation anxiety). Aged 1-12 years and over 15 lbs. No major health issues affecting activity.
  • Financial Incentive: $50 per person at the completion of the two study visits.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Niwako Ogata.

Contact: If you are interested or have further questions, please contact our research team at pabcr@purdue.edu for further details.


 

Dermatology

  • There are no studies at this time.

 

Genetics

Genetic Studies of Naturally-Occurring Inherited Traits and Diseases in Dogs and Cats

  • Description: The objective of this studty is to investigate and find the genetic cause of various diseases/conditions/traits.  At this time, we are specifically enrolling dogs of several breeds.
  • Eligibility: Eligibility is determined on a study-by-study basis. For the current study, we are interested in purebred Basenjis, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Chow Chows, English Toy Spaniels, French Bulldogs, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Keeshonds, Norwegian Buhunds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Pugs, and Shiba Inus. Dogs of any age and health status qualify.  We almost never turn down a sample, as it is always useful to have DNA banked from dogs of all breeds.
  • Financial Incentive: If/when a genetic test for a specific trait or disease is developed, owners of dogs enrolled in the research (before commercialization of any test), will receive free test results for the enrolled dog or cat.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Kari Ekenstedt and Dr. Dayna Dreger
For more information or to contact us

Internal Medicine

IMHA in Dogs (the use of s-adenosylmethionine as an adjunctive therapy for dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia)

  • Description: Canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a serious disease in dogs in which the immune system begins attacking the dog’s own red blood cells. This can lead to severe anemia and symptoms like pale/yellow gums, increased heart rate, lethargy/malaise, poor appetite, and possibly episodes of collapse. 

    While there are causes of IMHA, in most dogs no cause is identified. In these cases, treatment for this disease usually includes a combination of emergency stabilization and medications. This disease should be considered an emergency, because many dogs will require at least 1 blood transfusion to address their anemia. Following stabilization, IMHA is routinely treated with medications that suppress the immune system, along with other supportive medications.

    Dr. Woolcock, a small animal internal medicine specialists, has been researching IMHA in dogs, and has identified that dogs with IMHA are deficient in an important antioxidant called glutathione. This deficiency likely arises during the inflammation and destruction of the red blood cells. Without antioxidants, these dogs might be at risk for further destruction of their cells or promotion of more damage. Therefore, this clinical trial is designed to incorporate an oral antioxidant medication along with standard therapy for dogs with IMHA.

  • Eligibility: Dogs enrolled in this study must be newly diagnosed with IMHA, and cannot have been receiving treatment for their IMHA for more than 24 hours. Dogs cannot enroll in this study if they are already receiving any over-the-counter antioxidant or multivitamin supplements. Once enrolled in the study, families must agree to bring their dogs to Purdue for recheck appointments at 6 time points during the 90 days of the trial. Because IMHA is typically an emergency, these dogs are typically admitted to the hospital for at least 2 days for care and stabilization. A typical estimate for the cost of an IMHA evaluation and treatment would be between $3000-4000.

  • Financial Incentive: If enrolled in this trial, families would receive a $750 credit toward this hospital bill.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Woolcock

If you have are interested in enrolling your dog in this trial, please contact Laura Danaher at 765-496-9715. If you have any questions about whether or not your dog is eligible for this trial, please contact Laura Danaher at the number above or via email: VeterinaryClinicalTrials@purdue.edu).

 

Neurology

radiation treatment with brachytherapy seeds after the resection of a brain tumor

  • Description: The objective of this study is to realize a new type of radiation treatment after the surgical excision of a brain tumor in dogs: Meningioma, Glioma.
  • Eligibility: All breeds are considered. Any dog that is suspected to be suffering from a brain tumor meningioma or glioma. A pre-appointment MRI done by the referring veterinarian and examined by the Neurology & Neurosurgery service must confirm the suspicion of a meningioma or a glioma. Blood work and chest radiographs (from within the last month) must have already been performed - these may be performed at the referring veterinarian office before the appointment at Purdue.
  • Financial incentive: Client will pay for the surgery and associated hospitalization. The radiation treatment will be offered to the client, representing an incentive gesture of over $7,000.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Vanhaezebrouck and Dr. Timothy Bentley

Glioma Clinical Trial (Canine Immunoneurotherapeutics)

  • Description: A study to examine surgery and administration of a virus into the resection cavity for treatment of these tumors.
  • Eligibility: Any dog that is suspected to be suffering from a brain glioma. A pre-appointment MRI done by the referring veterinarian and examined by the Neurology & Neurosurgery service must confirm the suspicion of a glioma. Blood work and chest radiographs (from within the last month) must have already been performed – these may be performed at the referring veterinarian office before the appointment at Purdue.
  • Financial incentive: All costs are covered by the study (surgery, post-operative care, administering the virus, monitoring including labwork, repeat MRIs at 1, 3, and 6 months post-operatively), and any other costs associated with each visit.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Timothy Bentley

F-Waves as a prognostic indicator in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion with absent deep pain perception

  • Description: The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Neurology Service is currently recruiting for a clinical study in dogs with severe spinal cord injury secondary to thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (‘slipped disc’ in the back). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of a test called ‘F-waves’ to predict if severely affected dogs will or will not recover after their injury and surgery.
  • Eligibility: To qualify, dogs between 1-10 years of age must have become acutely (within 7 days of enrollment) unable to walk in their back legs due to a slipped disc that requires surgery. At the time of enrollment, dogs must be paralyzed and unable to feel the toes of their back legs (i.e., deep pain negative). Eligibility will be determined upon assessment by Purdue Neurology.
  • Financial incentive: The study takes place during hospitalization plus two post-operative rechecks. Study-related procedures and rechecks are covered at no-cost to owners. Study participation also results in approximately $500 worth of credits/discounts applied to the hospital bill

For more information and to find out if your dog might qualify, please contact your veterinarian for a referral or contact the Purdue Clinical Trials Office (phone: 765-496-9715, email: VeterinaryClinicalTrials@purdue.edu).You can also visit our website: https://vet.purdue.edu/ctr/clinical-research/canine.php

For more information or to contact us

Oncology

  • For more information click here

Ophthalmology

cANINE gLAUCOMA sTUDY

  • Description: A study evaluating the blood supply of the optic nerve in canine glaucoma through advanced imaging (optical coherence tomography) to better understand the disease process and identify earlier diagnostic tools for improved outcomes of treatment.
  • Eligibility: Any dog diagnosed with primary glaucoma and no other ocular disease.
  • Financial Incentive: All participants will receive a $100 Amazon gift card at the completion of the study, in addition to free ocular examination and no cost advanced imaging.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Shin Ae Park

Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (PU)

  • Description: A study to better understand the disease progression of PU and establish a DNA bank of samples from both affected and normal Golden Retrievers.
  • Eligibility: Any purebred Golden Retriever.
  • Financial Incentive: There is no compensation for participation in this study. However, the ocular examination is performed at no cost to you.
  • Primary Investigator: Dr. Wendy Townsend

For more information or to contact us

Orthopedics

  • There are no studies at this time.

 

    Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, 765-494-7607

    © 2024 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by PVM Web Communications

    If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact PVM Web Communications at vetwebteam@purdue.edu.