All Active Feline Clinical Trials

Evaluating Potential Blood Biomarkers for Feline Heart Disease (HCM)

Scientific Title: Evaluation of Potential Novel Biomarkers for Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Study Investigator: Dr. Sonja Fonfara

Graduate Students: Drs Ananda Pires and Andrew Chong (DVSc)

Researchers at OVC have identified a set of genes that are differently expressed in hearts from cats with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared to healthy cats. The products of these genes are known to be released into the blood and might therefore be useful as markers for HCM.

Inclusion criteria (two groups):

• Healthy, male cats ≥ 2 years – RECRUITMENT COMPLETE FOR THIS GROUP
• Female and male cats ≥ 2 years with HCM and no concurrent medical conditions

Comparison of Small Molecules in the Blood Samples of Cats With and Without Heart Disease

Scientific Title: Circulating miRNA profiles in cats with and without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Assessment of a Novel Urine Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury in Cats

Scientific Title: Feline Acute Kidney Injury Study

Study Investigator: Dr. Dorothee Bienzle

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs when there is a sudden failure of the kidneys to perform their normal filtration duties. If diagnosed early and treated aggressively, AKI is potentially reversible. Not all cats with AKI have the
same laboratory blood results (ie: serum creatinine concentration may not be elevated) which can make diagnosis problematic, however, there may be a new
biomarker in urine that we can use to diagnose AKI.

Inclusion criteria:

• Severe systemic disease (including cancer)
• Aminoglycoside & NSAID therapies
• Low urinary tract obstruction
• Prerenal azotemia
• Exacerbation of chronic renal disease
• Acute renal failure

Exploring a Novel Nanoparticle Combined with Light Therapy to Treat Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats

Scientific Title: Pilot evaluation of liposome-based nanoparticles (Porphysomes) and phototherapy for feline and canine solid tumours: oral subproject

Study Investigator: Dr. Michelle Oblak

Surgery may not always be the best option for cats with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) as it is challenging to obtain adequate clear surgical margins and often, the disease reoccurs. Adjuvant therapies including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and palliative options are ineffective or poorly tolerated and do not improve the overall survival rate of cats with OCSCC. We need to make improvements to staging and treatment. PORPHYSOME-enabled therapies can have an immediate impact on cancer management providing better patient outcomes.

This project is part of the Veterinary Medical Innovation Platform aligned with Dr Michelle Oblak’s research chair with OVC and Animal Health Partners.

Inclusion criteria:

• Cats with a confirmed diagnosis of OCSCC

Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Biobank

Formerly the Companion Animal (Cats and Dogs) Tumour Sample Bank

Study Investigator: Drs. Michelle Oblak and Geoff Wood

Biobanks are important for research that connects animal and human medicine, narrowing the knowledge gap between these two fields. The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Veterinary Biobank is part of the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation. Since 2009, over 30,000 samples have been gathered from over 2000 pets with the goal to improve the health’s of our pets.

Our biobank and its repository of samples are essential to our understanding of the disease processes, finding better treatments and diagnostic methods as well as predicting how individuals may respond to treatment.

Inclusion criteria:

• Animals visiting the OVC Health Sciences Centre or Smith Lane Animal Hospital undergoing surgery and/or sample collection
• Participating animals can be healthy or diagnosed with a disease