PetSavers clinical research projects are carried out by qualified veterinary surgeons and DO NOT Involve the use of Experimental Animals.

PetSavers funds crucial clinical research designed to advance our knowledge of conditions affecting small animals and with potential to relieve illness and suffering. Our projects are selected in the hope that study results will have a rapid and positive impact on the way diseases are diagnosed, managed and treated in general practice as well as at a specialist level.

PetSavers has funded numerous studies since 1974 including areas such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, heart disease, anaesthesia and critical care, internal medicine, surgery, neurology, parasitology, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, dermatology, pathology and genetics.

If you wish to apply for a Clinical Research Project or a Masters Degree by Research grant please visit the How To Apply page under the Grants section.

The following research projects were awarded in 2011:

• Development of reliable genetic methods to determine feline AB blood types and investigation of non-AB blood types in UK cats.
  Awarded to: De Sev Tasker BSc BVSc PhD DipECVIM-CA DSAM PGCertHE MRCVS at the University of Bristol.
   
• Monitoring asymptoamatic cats diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in practice.
  Awarded to: Vicky Ironside MA VetMB Cert VC MRCVS at Hallam Veterinary Centre.
   
• The role of phosphate regulatory hormones in development of renal azotaemia in cats treated for hyperthyroidism.
  Awarded to: Tim Williams MA VetMB MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.
   
• An evlauation of propofol-alfentanil admixture administered by target-controlled infusion, for sedation in dogs.
  Awarded to: Derek Flaherty BVMS DVA DipECVAA MRCA MRCVS FHEA at the University of Glasgow

• Validation of an echocardiographic scoring system for mitral regurgitation caused by chronic valvular disease using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
  Awarded to: Virginia Luis Fuentes MA VetMB PhD CertVR DVC DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS

The following research projects were awarded in 2010:

• Functional studies in elucidate the pathogenesis of feline eosinophilic granuloma.
  Awarded to: Prof Anja Kipar Dr Med Vet Habil DiplECVP FTA Pathologie MRCVS at the University of Liverpool
   
• Nicotine concentrations in the hair of dogs and cats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke
  Awarded to: Prof Clare Knottenbelt BVSc MSc DSAM MRCVS at the University of Glasgow.
  
  
• Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Toll like receptor genes with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in German Shepherd Dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Karin Allenspach Dr.med.vet. FVH PhD DiplECVIM-CA FHEA MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.
  
   
• Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism in canine IMHA using computed tomographic pulmonary angiography - A pilot study
  Awarded to: Dr Virginia Luis Fuentes MA VetMB PhD CertVR DVC MRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM at the Royal Veterinary College.
  
   
• The Alan Hoby Award - Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP in urine, pleural effusion and serum in cats
  Awarded to: Ms Karen Humm MA VetMB CertVA DACVECC MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College. 
  This project was funded from the estate of the late Mr Alan Hoby and is named in his memory.
   
• Evaluation of new urine tests for detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease in dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Joy Archer VMD MS PhD DipECVCP FRCPath MRCVS at the University of Cambridge.
   
• Investigation of mRNA-based gene expression profiling as a prognostic test to predict the metastatic potential of canine uveal melanomas
  Awarded to: Mr David Donaldson BVSc(Hons) CertVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS at the Animal Health Trust.

The following research projects were awarded in 2009:

• Evaluation of population genetic structure in UK dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Richard Mellanby BSc(Hons) BVMS PhD DSAM ECVIM-CA MRCVS & Dr Dylan Clements BVSc BSc PhD DipECVS DSAS(Orth) MRCVS at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

• Case-control study to investigate risk factors, including environmental stressors, for the occurrence of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowl disease in domestic dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Rachel Casey BVMS PhD DipECVBM-CA Dip(AS) CABC CCAB MRCVS at the University of Bristol.

• Bacteria-associated complications associated with thoracostomy tube use in dogs and cats - analysis of incidence and risk factors
  Awarded to: Mr Matthieu Cariou DVM CertSAS MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.

• Establishing potential CSF markers of degenerative myelopathy in the dog
  Awarded to: Professor T. James Anderson BVM&S MVM PhD DSAO DipECVN at the University of Glasgow.

• Nausea and vomiting after Vincristine and Cyclophosphamide chemotherapy and effects of Maropitant (Cerenia™) on incidence and severity in dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Laura Blackwood BVMS(Hons) PhD MVM(Small Animal Oncology) CertVR DipECVIM-CA(Onc) MRCVS at the University of Liverpool.

• An investigation in to the use of antibacterials in small animal practice
  Awarded to: Dr Alan Radford BSc BVSc PhD at the University of Liverpool.

• Using molecular genetics to more accurately predict the prognosis for dogs with mast cell tumours
  Awarded to: Mrs Suzanne Murphy BVM&S MSc(Clin Onc) DipECVIM-CA(Onc) MRCVS at the Animal Health Trust.

• Computed tomography assessment of the efficacy of arthroscopy in the treatment of medial coronoid disease by a prospective clinical study
  Awarded to: Mr Elvin Kulendra BVetMed MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.

• Diagnostic value of transverse sectioning in the evaluation of skin biopsy specimens from alopecic dogs
  Awarded to: Dr Ross Bond BVMS PhD DVD MRCVS DipECVD at the Royal Veterinary College.

The following research projects were awarded in 2008:

• Investigation of SiRNA knock-down of KIT (stem cell factor receptor) in canine malignant mast cells.
  Awarded to: Dr Brian Catchpole BVetMed PhD MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.

• The effect of boric acid on bacterial culture of cat and dog urine submitted to the laboratory by rapid service postal delivery.Awarded to: Ms. Rachel Burrow BVetMed CertSAS CertVR DiplECVS MRCVS at the University of Liverpool.

• A modern perspective on the investigation of tendon allografts for canine cranial cruciate ligament repair.
  Awarded to: Prof John F. Innes BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS(Orth) MRCVS at the University of Liverpool.

• Postoperative analgesia for elbow arthroscopy in dogs using intra-articular morphine & bupivacaine.
  Awarded to: Mr Matthew Gurney BVSc CertVA MRCVS at Northwest Veterinary Surgeons.

• Do previously undetectable bacteria play a significant role in the aetiopathogenesis of feline periodontal disease and lymphocytic/plasmacytic gingivostomatitis?
  Awarded to: Dr Marcello P. Riggio Bsc(Hons) PhD at the University of Glasgow.

• Investigation of the utility of a newly available oscillometric blood pressure monitor as a tool for the identification of hypertension in cats.
  Awarded to: Ms Martha Cannon BA VetMB DSAM(Fel) at The Oxford Cat Clinic.

• Investigation of the mechanism of haemostatic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring Angiostrongylus vasorum infection.
  Awarded to: Ms Sophie Adamantos BVSc CertVA DipACVECC MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.

• Investigation into the pathogenesis of canine hepatic encephalopathy.Awarded to: Dr Richard Mellanby BSc(Hons) BVMS PhD DSAM ECVIM-CA MRCVS at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

• Hypovitaminosis D: an under-recognised complication of gastrointestinal disease in dogs?Awarded to: Dr Richard Mellanby BSc(Hons) BVMS PhD DSAM ECVIM-CA MRCVS at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

• Natriuretic peptides in hyperthyroid cats.
  Awarded to: Mr Pierre Menaut DMV MRCVS at the Royal Veterinary College.

• Investigation of local anaesthetic techniques to reduce intraoperative and postoperative discomfort in canine castration and ovarohysterectomy.
  Awarded to: Dr Jacqueline C. Brearley MA VetMB PhD DVA DipECVA MRCVS at the University of Cambridge.