Research projects
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory participates in a number of national and international research projects.
Below you will find brief information about some of our current and previous research projects, and a list of publications within the section for Medicine, Oncology and Veterinary Clinical Pathology can be found here, wherein the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory plays an important part in generating data.
Current projects:
Cancer can activate platelets, which upon activation release procoagulant platelet microparticles (PMP). The aim of the study is to screen dogs with cancer for PMP concentration and procoagulant activity. We hypothesize that the PMP concentration and procoagulant phenotype will i) associate with presence of cancer, ii) show a potential difference between various cancer types, and iii) associate with the risk of metastasis.
For further information, please contact: Signe E. Cremer, emilie@sund.ku.dk
Proteins can be altered in composition and concentration in the presence of disease. Platelets have the potential to take up such proteins. They can therefor potentially mirror a disease process and serve as a source of disease biomarkers. To recognize such disease-specific changes, the protein profiles from healthy dogs must first be analyzed. The aim of the study is to establish the baseline, healthy canine platelet secretome (CAPS) for future comparison against disease-associated CAPS profiles.
For further information, please contact: Signe E. Cremer, emilie@sund.ku.dk
The purpose is to explore platelets as a source of cancer biomarkers. Platelet proteins can be altered in composition and concentration in presence of cancer, and they can potentially provide a disease ‘fingerprint’. The aim of the study is to analyze platelet proteins in dogs with bone cancer or breast cancer. We hypothesize a unique protein profile for individual cancers, and normalization of such profiles with the treatment of cancer.
For further information, please contact: Signe E. Cremer, emilie@sund.ku.dk
Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs and cats, and 8-14% of all tumors arise from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Clinical signs of GI cancer are vague (vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss) and do not differ between gastrointestinal cancer and chronic enteropathy. Extensive testing including biopsies and histopathology is often needed for a diagnosis – and this can be invasive and expensive. There is a need of reliable and non-invasive tests/biomarkers to differentiate between cancer and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Fecal and serum microRNAs show potential as biomarkers of human colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine if dogs and cats with GI cancer have different fecal miRNA expression patterns than dogs/cats that are either healthy or have chronic inflammatory enteropathy (previously IBD). A secondary aim was to determine if difference in expression can be used as a diagnostic biomarker to distinguish chronic inflammatory enteropathy from GI cancer.
For further information contact Janne Graarup Lyngby, E-mail: janne.lyngby@sund.ku.dk
The aim of the study is to examine the function of the thyroid gland in Greenlandic sled dogs and to determine a reference interval for the concentration of thyroid hormones T4, free T4 and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in Greenlandic sled dogs. Further it will be investigated if varying physiological conditions as rest (summer), work (winter) as well as varying temperature conditions or body condition score will influence the concentrations of thyroid hormones. The hypothesis is the reference interval for the concentrations of thyroid hormones are lower in the Greenlandic sled dogs, compared to reference values for non-sled dog breeds.
For further information, please contact Anne Krogh:
e-mail: akrk@sund.ku.dk
The aim om the study is to establish a protocol for thromboelastography (TEG) in reptiles and to evaluate the hemostatic response after activation of the innate immune system by the use of LPS in vitro. The nile-crocodile will be used as a model organism of reptiles. The hypothesis of the project is the hemostatic system will be activated by LPS and a hypercoagulable response will be present. The project is in collaboration with the Copenhagen Zoo.
For further information, please contact Anne Krogh:
e-mail: akrk@sund.ku.dk
Completed projects:
The aim of the current study was to investigate if dogs with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract develop Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and if these NETs are associated with a prothrombotic state defined as either activated platelets or increased thrombin generation. Our hypothesis was that dogs with acute and chronic gastroenteritis develop NETs and there is a co-activation of the coagulation system, which can be detected by microparticles from activated platelets and by an increased level of the end product of coagulation (thrombin).
Link to publication:
For further information, please contact Anne Krogh:
e-mail: akrk@sund.ku.dk
Acknowledgements
When considered appropriate, please make sure to acknowledge the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory when publishing results obtained from us:
"We acknowledge the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen".
Thank you!