Current Research..

14th November 2018 - Research starting using some of the funding provided by The Berrie B Foundation and will be headed by Dr Penny Watson MA VetMD CertVR DSAM DipECVIM FRCVS. Doctoral researcher Laura Hardwick will also be apart of this research at The Queens Veterinary School, Cambridge University.

• Chronic Pancreatitis in English Cocker Spaniels and some other dogs which has very similar appearance to an autoimmune disease in humans, called IgG4 related disease. This is a disease where the body's own immune system attacks multiple ducts in the body including the pancreas, tear ducts and kidneys. A PhD student is currently working on this trying to develop a good diagnostic test and also look at genetics.

• Chronic pancreatitis in Cavalier King Charles spaniels. We believe that Cavaliers suffer from a particular form of the disease where the pancreas scars. Dr Penny Watson and registrars are working on studies to help understand the cause and genetics in cavaliers. It is thought their disease may be due to high levels of serotonin in the blood stream, which is a neurotransmitter that can drive fibrosis.

• Genetics of recurrent pancreatitis in terriers: a small ongoing study trying to see if dogs which have recurrent pancreatitis from a young age (less than 2 years old) suffer from hereditary pancreatitis.