BSAVA PetSavers has awarded funding of nearly £110,000 for eight new clinical research grants.

The Clinical Research Project grants support the undertaking for small-scale research projects in companion animals, with the ultimate objective of advancing understanding of the causes and/or management of a clinical disorder.

The awards include funding for:

  • Researchers at the University of Cambridge who hope to identify genetic risk factors for glaucoma in Welsh Springer Spaniels, paving the way for future genetic testing.
  • The Royal Veterinary College, which is tackling antifungal drug resistance in canine Malassezia pachydermatis, informing therapeutic choices and drug stewardship programmes.
  • University of Glasgow researchers, who are exploring saliva as a non-invasive tool for monitoring canine epilepsy
  • The University of Edinburgh, for its work examining links between the gut microbiome and autoimmune diseases in dogs, offering insights comparable to human medicine.
  • Researchers at AURA Veterinary and the University of Surrey who are investigating small-RNA sequencing profiles in dogs with prostatic carcinoma, with the aim of developing a minimally invasive diagnostic tool.
  • Research into the feasibility of AI in detecting tonic-clonic seizures in dogs at the University of Glasgow, to enhance seizure monitoring in both veterinary clinics and home environments.
  • Investigating the use of micro-CT to help to determine the prevalence of congenital heart disease in the unexplained deaths of neonatal puppies at Bristol Vet Specialists and the University of Cambridge, alongside Great Ormond Street Hospital.
  • Examining acute phase protein concentrations in canine pericardial effusions at Willows Veterinary Referral Centre.

The projects are expected to be completed by 2028.

https://bsava.com/petsavers