111368 Vet Med Profiles - University of Minnesota College of ...

Clinical Investigations BenefitPeople—and Their Best FriendsMany diseases afflict both people and their pets.Veterinary research is perfecting therapies for both.Imagine being able to grow new kneejoint cartilage rather than having toundergo major surgery to replace afailed joint. You and your pet may beable to one day, thanks to a collaborationbetween the College of VeterinaryMedicine and the University’s MedicalSchool.College faculty members Cathy Carlsonand Timothy O’Brien are working withRobert LaPrade, associate professor oforthopaedic surgery in the MedicalSchool, on a technique for growing cartilagefrom stem cells derived from bonemarrow from adult dogs. The cartilagewould then be placed into the dog’s kneejoints to replace worn or damaged tissue.The idea is to perfect the technique indogs and then transfer it to humans.“Clinically, the technique has potentialfor use in either animals or humans sinceanimals develop many of the same diseasesof joints as humans ,” says Carlson.This project is just one of several beingcoordinated by the College’s ClinicalInvestigation Center (CIC) that stands tobenefit both people and pets. Many ofthese projects, CICdirector BonnieSweeney says, beginwith a medicalresearcher looking fora veterinarian to helpwith animal testing.“When we start totalk, we figure outthings that benefitboth humans andanimals,” she says.“The light bulbs goon and we come upwith ideas that willhave practical benefitsfor both.”Other CIC-coordinated projects thathold promise for both humans and animalsinclude a study of a painkiller fordogs that may find application in humanjoint surgery; efforts to use a medicationthat boosts human organ transplant success,eye treatment for horses; andresearch on laser therapy for caninetumors that may eventually be used inpeople with cancer.“This kind of ‘win-win’ collaboration iswhat the CIC is all about,” saysSweeney. “Because the Center serves asa focal point for applied research in theCollege, we can help develop proposalsinto coordinated efforts that benefithumans and animals alike.”For more information seewww1.umn.edu/vcic or call612-624-2752.FILE PHOTOCurrent TrialsFILE PHOTOClinical trials currently beingcoordinated by the VeterinaryClinical Investigation Centerinclude studies of:• the effectiveness of prednisone-cyclosporintherapy forhemolytic anemia in dogs• the effect of diet modificationson seizure control in dogs• the use of diet and drug therapyin dogs and cats with renaldisease and hypertension• use of photodynamic therapyto treat recurrent cancers indogs• determinants of hair regrowthin dogs after clipping• use of a cyclosporine-releasingimplant to treat “moonblindness”(uveitis) in horses• use of an antidepressant medicationto treat cats that losetheir hair• effectiveness of distempervirus to treat dogs withrelapsed lymphoma4