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Clinical Trials

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: 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 3:

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.