If you have a dog that has been diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma (UC), also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), you may be able to help other dogs by donating their urine samples to our research laboratory at the University of Georgia. In our state-of-the-art stem cell laboratory, we are conducting research to better understand urothelial carcinoma, and we are working to develop treatments for this devastating disease.
How it works
Stem cells are shed by the tumor into the bladder, and therefore we are able to harvest samples from free-catch urine. After collection, we can isolate and grow these stem cells in 3-dimensional mini-organs (termed “organoids”) and subsequently test different treatment options (chemotherapies) to help create better medicines and treatment options in the future.
How you can help
If your dog has been diagnosed or is a suspected UC patient, please reach out to us. We will ship a sample collection tube to you (filled with a simple preservative liquid). And all we ask is for a fresh urine sample to be collected in the tube and returned to us on ice packs and that’s it!
Please send emails to [email protected] and be sure to include:
- Your Name
- Pet’s Name
- Age
- Breed
- Sex
- ~Weight
- Date of Diagnosis
- Details of Diagnosis (are they BRAF+ ?)
- Any treatments currently or previously given for TCC (chemo, radiation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [ex: piroxicam])
- Your best shipping address
We thank you for contributing to our research efforts and helping other dogs with UC in the future!
Questions?: Please email Christopher Zdyrski ([email protected]).
