The study submission instructions are found under 'Lymphoma, Osteosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma (Breen and Modiano study).  This is the only study where these samples can be submitted. The submission instructions were updated in January to include Dachshunds on the list of target breeds. There are no photos associated with the consent form for this study. The consent form is the same for all 20 breeds. We have put this study info at the top of the page  (http://www.breenlab.org/recruitment.html). View and print consent form:
Since the lab works with a number of different cancers covered by the same consent form we ask the vet and submitting owner to tell us the name and breed of the dog and cancer type. It would be complicated to have a different consent form for each breed and this format has been working well for many years with the 19 other breeds listed on the submission form.

Here are the requirements for tissue and blood submission:

small piece (blueberry sized) fresh tissue in a sterile container (no other liquid, saline etc), fresh tissue in formalin and a 5-10ml EDTA (lilac topped tube) blood sample.
For unaffected relatives and/or healthy seniors: 5-10mls of EDTA blood.
For cancer affected dogs: where no tissue is available: 5-10mls EDTA blood
The work done by the Broad folks just needs us to send them DNA.  So it is fine for us to coordinate that from here rather than asking for a second blood sample to go there.

One thing that would be useful for us  when you talk with the parent breed club is to make sure people are aware of  the size of the tissue pieces we need. We have had occasions of whole spleens etc arriving and it must be very costly to mail and also difficult from our perspective too. We only need a small piece of tissue that is  cancer-affected. In hemangiosracoma cases it can be difficult for the vet to identify what is what, when the spleen has ruptured. Even so, we would only need a small piece.

The other thing  that is critical is to make sure that all samples are well padded and in a non-crushable container. We have had some pretty gory packages over the years. Franking machines and blood tubes don't go well together! So we would request that nothing is mailed in a padded envelope.

We also appreciate it when the packages are well packed inside-many vets are good at this but if it is the owner who does the packaging it may be helpful for them to know that putting the tissue containers inside a ziploc bag and then sealing the top with packing tape  seems to work well for stopping any potential leaks. The blood tubes are often wrapped with multiple pieces of kitchen roll or cotton wool and then placed in a bag, as for the tissue. Generally all of this goes into a styrofoam container and then often it will be put into a cardboard box. For owners who are packing this up, the vet should be able to give them a small styrofoam container  that will work well.   Finally, there needs be a cold pack (like the ones that go in lunch boxes) in there too to make sure the tissue stays cool.

The packaging makes a big difference to the state of the samples when we receive them. Since the owners are going to considerable expense to do this it seems worth pointing out, so that the samples are useable!

View and print submission form:

     A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE GENETIC RELATIONSHIP AMONGST BREEDS OF DOGS

        RESEARCH INTO MOLECULAR CAUSES OF CANINE EPILEPSY

        RESEARCH INTO PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY IN MINIATURE LONGHAIRED    

         DACHSHUND

A study of diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hemolytic anemia in all breeds is being conducted by Dr. Wayne Potts and the University of Utah.   Cheek-swab DNA samples are being collected.  A form must be submitted, including a page that is to be completed by the dog's  veterinarian.  The form and all other information is available at  http://www.malamutehealth.org/grant305.htm