You've banked your Newf's DNA. What's next? Something ONLY you can do!

The CHIC DNA Repository collects and stores canine DNA samples along with corresponding genealogic and phenotypic information to facilitate future research and testing aimed at reducing the incidence of inherited disease in dogs. It's goals are to facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process, provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research, allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA-based disease tests as they become available, and foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community, improving the likelihood of genetic discovery.

Several of the presentations at the 2023 AKC/CHF National Parent Club Canine Health Conference highlighted the utility of the banked DNA in jumpstarting research. Newfoundlands currently have 2162 banked samples (1329 blood based, 833 swab based), 43 with SAS for example. Thanks in large part the dedicated collection efforts at National Specialities and Trust support for the submission fees, these samples respresent over 2% of the entire DNA collection! To be of the MOST value to researchers, we must also make the commitment to update each Newf's veterinary history and their human's contact information periodically.

The samples collected at National Specialities are typically young dogs and generally healthy at the time of collection. While some conditions are diagnosed early, many conditions develop later in life. This collection is particularly useful for control (unaffected) samples. If your sample is selected as a possible control, OFA will contact you to confirm there have been no changes to that Newf's health status. If your Newf does develop a problem, reporting it may help develop prevention strategies or effective treatments in the future.

When should you send an update? Please report any new definitive diagnosis. Please report date of death particularly if you have a definitive cause of death. Report any transfer of ownership of the Newf as well as any change your email address. And please do it BEFORE something happens to YOU as YOU may be the ONLY one who knows this information and can make that crucial link to your donated DNA sample. Do it NOW then set an annual reminder on your calendar!

How to report? If your dog has DNA banked in the CHIC DNA Repository and has had any significant health status changes since filling out the original phenotypic health survey, please remember to email the OFA with updates. Include the dog’s name/number, as well as any updated diagnosis. As the number of researchers interested in this resource continues to increase, it is important to keep the health histories up to date, as that is typically the primary selection criteria for supplying samples to a given research proposal. Email updates to: ofa@offa.org. Thank You!

Lori Littleford, Research Advisory Committee Chair