Skip Navigation

Clinical Studies

Canine Neurology

Canine Study 1:

Title: Influence of a novel compound on recovery from spinal cord injury due to disk herniation
Contact Person: Alisha Onkst
Julie Harris
Jonathan M. Levine, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology
Species: Dog
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Dogs must have ≤ 2 day history of spinal cord dysfunction resulting in a loss of coordination in the back legs only and be scheduled for surgery to repair disk herniation.
Exclusion Criteria: Dogs can not have a history of receiving steroids (for example, prednisone, dexamethasone, cortisone) within 7 days of evaluation at Texas A&M University.
Owner Commitments: Animals will participate during the normal course of their hospitalization, for the diagnosis and treatment of disk herniation. Also, participating patients will be required to return to the hospital for a re-check neurological examination 4-6 weeks after surgery. The time required to complete this re-check visit could range from 1-2 hours.
Financial Incentives: There are no financial obligations by the owner to Texas A&M University for participation in this study, although they will be responsible for standard fees associated with initial examination, surgery and recovery. A 4-6 week follow-up visit will be paid for by the investigator and is required for participation. Participation in the study with successful completion of all visits will result in a refund of certain fees associated with the initial visit (diagnosis and surgery), which typically amounts to $200-275. Click the link for more information: Spinal Cord Injury Brochure

Canine Study 2:

Title: The Influence of an Experimental Compound on Disk Composition in Dogs with Cervical Disk Herniation
Contact Person: Alisha Onkst
Julie Harris
Jonathan M. Levine, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology
Species: Dog
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Any dog (>10 kg) that presents with evidence of one site of disk herniation in the neck (cervical area) and that has the ability to detect sensation in the legs is eligible for inclusion.
Exclusion Criteria: Dogs that have implants placed during surgical treatment
Owner Commitments: Participating patients will be required to return to the hospital for repeat neurological and MRI evaluation 3 months and 6 months after surgery. The time required to complete each visit will vary depending on the availability of investigators and equipment and could range from 3 to 8 hours
Financial Incentives: There are no financial obligations by the owner to Texas A&M University for participation in this study, although they will be responsible for standard fees associated with initial examination, surgery and recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging performed at 3 months and 6 months after injection will be paid for by the study as will sedation and re-check examination fees.
Participation in the study with successful completion of all visits will result in a refund of certain fees associated with the initial visit (diagnosis and surgery), which typically amounts to 8-12% of the cost of that visit ($200-275).

Canine Study 3:

Title: Inflammatory Central Nervous System Disease Screening
Contact Person: Alisha Onkst
Julie Harris, RVT
Jonathan M. Levine, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology
Species: Dogs
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Dogs with MRI and CSF confirmed inflammatory central nervous system disease will have CSF submitted for analysis to the University of Georgia for identification of novel agents.
Exclusion Criteria: None
Owner Commitments: None
Financial Incentives: None

Canine Study 4:

Title: Canine Brain Tumor Surgery Study
Contact Person: Alisha Selix
Julie Harris
Species: Dogs
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Veterinarians at Texas A&M University have entered into collaboration with medical doctors and scientists at University of Texas at Houston Medical School to improve our understanding of brain tumors. As a first step, the two institutions have partnered to develop a tissue bank and provide funding for canine brain tumor surgeries at Texas A&M University.

The following criteria must be met for participation.

  1. Your dog must have MRI evidence to support the presence of a mass within the brain tissue. While MRI at Texas A&M is encouraged, animals with outside MR studies are eligible.
  2. The mass must be accessible for removal or biopsy (to be determined by neurologists at Texas A&M)
  3. Your dog must be in good systemic health and have only moderate neurological deficits (an examination at Texas A&M is required)
  4. You must be willing to allow tumor tissue removed during surgery to be banked for scientific study
Exclusion Criteria: None
Owner Commitments: Animals will participate during the normal course of their hospitalization, for the diagnosis and treatment. Participating patients will be required to return to the hospital for a re-check neurological examination 4-6 weeks after surgery. The time required to complete this re-check visit could range from 1-2 hours.
Financial Incentives: Animals eligible for participation in this program will have the costs of brain tumor removal and aftercare waived, up to $6000. In most instances, this waiver should cover the entire cost of surgery, post-op MRI, and immediate post-operative care.
↑ Back to Top

Canine Oncology

Canine Study 1:

Title: Activated autologous T cell killing of CD 20+ B cell lymphoma in the Dog.
Contact Person: Heather Wilson, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Clinic Phone: 979-845-2351
Email: animalcancer@cvm.tamu.edu
Species: Canines
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Any dog weighing over 35 lbs that has been newly diagnosed with Lymphoma and is undergoing a blood draw procedure for diagnostic purposes. Additionally, healthy normal dog volunteers weighing over 35 lbs will be asked to donate a sample as well.
Exclusion Criteria: Dogs with significant concurrent disease are excluded from this study.
Owner Commitments: Each lymphoma dog will participate on a two time basis (once before chemotherapy and then 7 days post chemotherapy at the time of CBC collection). Normal dogs will participate on a one time basis only. No follow up is necessary.
Financial Incentives: Immunophenotyping (determination of the type of lymphoma using special stains) will be done free of charge for all dogs with Lymphoma entering the study. There will be no financial incentive for normal dogs entering the study.
This study is currently open.

Canine Study 2:

Title: Alteration of the intestinal microflora after chemotherapy in dogs.
Contact Person: Heather Wilson, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Clinic Phone: 979-845-2351
Email: animalcancer@cvm.tamu.edu
Species: Canines
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Your dog must have a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and receive doxorubicin (a chemotherapy drug) as part of their treatment protocol. Two pretreatment fecal (stool) samples are needed and may be frozen before your first appointment.
Exclusion Criteria: Dogs with significant concurrent disease are excluded from this study. Dogs receiving probiotics of any type (e.g. Fortiflora ®) will be excluded. Dogs with significant pre-existing intestinal disease will also be excluded.
Owner Commitments: You will be required to collect and bring in (or send in by mail) two pretreatment fecal samples as well as collect fecal sample the week before and 72 hours after doxorubicin chemotherapy. Blood will also be drawn at the first visit and possibly at subsequent visits for evaluation of B vitamin levels.
Financial Incentives: All costs associated with this study will be provided as part of your participation. After entering the study fecal collection tubes will be provided and shipping for any samples will be paid. Costs associated with diagnosis, staging and doxorubicin therapy will be the responsibility of the owner.
This study is currently open.

Canine Study 3:

Title: Evaluation of two new biologicals (NHS-IL12-IL2 and NHS-IL12 fusion proteins) in dogs with melanoma.
Contact Person: Heather Wilson, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Clinic Phone: 979-845-2351
Email: animalcancer@cvm.tamu.edu
Species: Canines
Inclusion Criteria and General Background Information: Your dog must have a confirmed diagnosis of melanoma and several tests to ensure his/her general health and to assess how advanced the disease is prior to treatment. The tumor will be biopsied prior to therapy. Tumors must be of a certain size (2-8 cm in the longest diameter) and your dog must have no other significant health problems. This study also includes dogs with only a single site as well as dogs with metastatic (spread of the tumor to other locations) disease.
Exclusion Criteria: Dogs with significant concurrent disease are excluded from this study. Dogs cannot be receiving concurrent chemotherapy (including corticosteroids) or radiation therapy. Dogs must be off of all such therapy for 3 weeks prior to study enrollment. NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use is allowable if patient has been receiving > 3 weeks. No dogs under 15 kg (<33 lbs) will be allowed in this study.
Owner Commitments: Prior to entry into this study, your dog must have a confirmed diagnosis of melanoma and staging tests to ensure his/her general health and to assess how advanced the disease is. The tumor will need to be biopsied before therapy for this purpose. After the first two days of NHS-IL-12-IL2 or NHS-IL12 your dog will need to return weekly to the hospital for evaluation, tumor biopsies (three in total), and serial blood collections for a total of 4 weeks. At the end of twenty-eight (28) days your dog's response will be evaluated. Dogs that have had a positive response can remain on the study and receive a second cycle of the drug. If there is any sign that your dog's disease is progressing, he/she will be taken off study. All visits are required for participation in the study and the support it provides. Interactions between these drugs and other drugs are unknown; therefore it is important to tell your veterinarian about any medications (and supplements) your dog is currently taking. It is strongly encouraged to eliminate all unnecessary medications. This should be discussed with your oncologist if you have any questions.
Financial Incentives: All costs associated with this study will be provided as part of your participation. In the event any complications arise during the twenty-eight (28) day study period (time period between drug administration and assessment), their management will be covered by study funds up to $2000/dog/event. This would include any unanticipated hospitalizations. However, all costs exceeding $2000/dog/event are your responsibility.
This trial is currently open.
↑ Back to Top