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I find it surprising, and not a little bit sad, that the subject of renal dysplasia research still cannot be discussed without aspersions being cast on the ABC and the ABCF.  I thought all that had been hashed out back in January, and yet here we are again, being told that the parent club doesn't care about this disease and doesn't want anyone to participate in this research.  I would like to take this opportunity to present the facts regarding the ABC/ABCF involvement in renal dysplasia research.

First, as was mentioned in late December when the topic first came up, the ABCF cannot spend money wherever they may choose; there are very clear IRS rules regarding research funding, and those rules require that grant proposals be submitted and approved prior to any money being awarded.  To quote the ABCF Treasurer from that earlier discussion, "We cannot fund a project that has never been presented to us by the researcher."

Secondly, when an individual so generously offered 'seed money' for an RD study to the ABCF, the "powers that be" began contacting researchers asking them to write grant proposals for a study, so that the money could be donated (and matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the AKC Canine Health Foundation). Remember, the ABCF cannot donate money without these grant proposals.  They tried for TWO YEARS to obtain a grant proposal, and found that researchers had very little interest in the project.  This was not due to a lack of interest or effort from the parent club – it was, instead, very likely due to a lack of enough confirmed affected Boxers to provide the requisite samples to even begin a study.  Indeed, even when individuals – who do not have the IRS restrictions the ABCF has – were able to obtain a researcher's interest in the project and start a DNA collection, six months later there have still not been enough samples from affected dogs submitted to begin an actual study.

As far as the lack of anything about RD in the "reams of pages" concerning the ABCF's interests – those pages listed research projects funded by the ABCF.  Since a grant proposal has yet to be written for the RD study, the ABCF still cannot offer funding for it.

Thirdly, it is patently untrue that ABC "higher ups" ever encouraged the Boxer community not to participate in this sample collection project.  The one message which spawned this misunderstanding, in fact, clearly said that those interested in RD research should send samples to the organization involved.  What it also said was that those interested in other conditions *might want to consider* one of the other DNA collection opportunities that the ABC had arranged.  If the ABC had truly wanted to discourage the Boxer community from participating in the RD collection, would they have allowed the CHIC personnel and Boxer-loving volunteers who were drawing blood for the CHIC database to draw a second tube for the RD collection?  Would they have invited the head researcher to speak at the health seminar? Would they have posted the collection information on the ABC website?

RD research has become a dividing issue for this breed, in a completely unexpected way, which can only hurt the dogs we are all so fiercely trying to help.  The ABC is currently supporting Suki's Study in the ways they are able – by combining sample collections at the National and the Regional, for example, or posting information about the Study on the ABC website.  If a grant proposal is ever written for the study (a grant may not be needed given the private donation), I have no doubt that the ABCF will approve funding.  The ABCF has teamed up with Dr. Lindblad-Toh to fund a currently-active study on hemangiosarcoma, and as Virginia Zurflieh announced, they will be funding a study on DM once the paperwork is finalized.

Regardless of what one feels the parent club, or the researchers, or the Foundation, or the breeders did or didn't do or should or shouldn't have done, it's time to move on.  The breed needs us to work together if we are ever to have any hope of escaping its devastating health problems.  Donate to the ABCF.  Send in samples for Suki's Study, and the CHIC databank, and any other study for which your dogs are eligible.  Talk with your specialists who are also researchers, and encourage them to send proposals for grants, or the less-formal acorn grants, to the AKC CHF so that donations can be doubled.  Talk with your co-breeders, puppy buyers, fellow exhibitors, and encourage them to donate and participate.  Forget about placing blame – it is the future of our breed that is at stake.

Jennifer Walker
ABC Health & Research Committee
boxers@newcastleboxers.com