Our Clinical Trials team is here to support you every step of the way! If you still have questions, please reach out to us via our website (Contact Us) or email (Clinical Trials Team).
What is a clinical trial?
A veterinary clinical trial is a research study involving client-owned animals with the ultimate goal of advancing animal health care. These studies may try to identify the most effective therapies and practices for a given condition or increase our understanding of a disease process. Veterinary clinical trials can also contribute to medical advancements in both animal and human medicine.
Why should I consider enrolling my pet in a clinical trial?
Clinical trials can provide your pet with access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and novel therapies that may be more effective and/or have fewer side effects than standard treatments. Additionally, the information gained from these studies benefits future animals with similar conditions and may lead to improved treatments in veterinary medicine.
Where are clinical trials conducted and who is involved?
Unless specified, all of our listed clinical trials are conducted on-site at the Ontario Veterinary College Companion Animal Hospital, University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario.
Collected samples (blood and/or tissues) may be sent to collaborators at external sites for additional testing, as outlined in the study information sheet.
Each trial is supervised by a Primary Investigator (faculty at the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College). Additional support may include veterinary residents, interns, and hospital technical staff. Our clinical trials team also includes a biobank coordinator, clinical trials veterinary technician, and a research manager.
What are the benefits of having my pet enrolled in a clinical study?
- Access to experts in the field and additional care from the Clinical Trials team.
- Lower-cost treatment: Some trials may cover part or all of your pet’s treatment, medical care, and other expenses. This will be outlined in the study information sheet.
- Contributing to veterinary advancements: Your pet’s participation helps validate new treatments or procedures that may become widely available to other pets with similar conditions.
- Access to novel therapies that may be more effective or have fewer side effects than standard treatments.
- Potential contribution to human medicine, as some veterinary studies help improve our understanding of diseases that affect both animals and h
What is needed from my pet if they are enrolled in a clinical study?
- Requirements for individual studies vary greatly and will be explained by a Clinical Trials team member/study clinician prior to enrollment
- Signed owner consent is obtained prior to any sample collection, procedural change or administration of alternative therapies
- Samples may be collected which could include blood, urine, or tissue.
- Surgical or diagnostic studies may require specialized equipment either in hospital or to go home with your pet
What are my responsibilities as an owner if I want my pet to participate?
- Responsibilities will vary by trial.
- It is important to understand the information presented on the Client Information Sheet and sign the Client Consent form. If you have any questions about the study, please ask your HSC veterinarian or Clinical Trials Team for clarification.
- Maintain scheduled appointments.
- Some of the studies will require routine sample collection (i.e. blood, urine, etc.) at select time intervals, either with your primary care veterinarian or at the OVC HSC. Other studies will require recheck examinations or follow-ups, either in clinic or via phone/email at regular intervals for a specified period.
- Please notify the Clinical Trials Team if your availability for future visits should change or you need to reschedule.
- Monitor your pet’s health
- Notify the Clinical Trials Team if there are any changes in the health of your pet or your willingness to participate in the study.
- Should you have any concerns regarding the health status of your pet, you should notify the Ontario Veterinary College and Clinical Trials Team immediately and in case of emergency, go to your closest emergency animal hospital.
Are there risks involved in having my pet participate in a clinical trial?
Our trials are designed with every precaution to minimize the risk to your pet. Clinical trial protocols go through rigorous review by multiple study and ethics review boards to ensure that the studies are optimally designed with the goal of an equal or better outcome for your pet in comparison to current standards of care. There is a large amount of safety data already collected prior to carrying out any clinical trial; however, there is always some inherent risk associated with any protocol.
All potential risks and benefits will be discussed with you and written in detail before enrolling your pet in any clinical trial. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Potential for adverse events
- New treatment, test, or procedure ineffective or unsuccessful
- More frequent testing or veterinary visits or prolonged hospital stay for additional monitoring
What if I don’t see a clinical trial for my pet?
There may not be a current trial right now for which your pet is qualified. We begin new studies frequently, stay up-to-date by signing up for our newsletter and checking the website regularly!