Greetings from Toby's Foundation,

Toby's Foundation (TF)is proudly sponsoring a grant entitled "Identification of Epilepsy-Causing Mutations in Australian Shepherds" for Dr. Hannes Lohi and his research group at the University of Helsinki, Finland for one year for $10,000, Toby's Foundation, TF Grant Number 5-2011.

In collaboration with Dr. Ned Patterson and his team from the University of Minnesota who recently mapped the first epilepsy (IE) locus in the Australian Shepherd (AS), Dr. Hannes Lohi will utilize the latest next - generation sequencing approaches to identify the gene(s)causing or contributing to epilepsy in the AS. The latest next-generation sequencing recently became available and is already being used in Finland. Dr Lohi will sequence genes in the area of the Chromosome that Dr. Ned Patterson and his team recently got the significant hit on. Dr. Lohi says that "identification of the epilepsy-causing mutations would enable us to develop genetic tests for AS for breeding purposes. It would also improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, and provide a novel candidate gene for other IE breeds and as well human IEs."

We are very excited about our grant which will help Aussie epilepsy research continue to move forward using the latest technology while Dr. Patterson applies for his next CHF grant. We stand ready with your help to co-sponsor that grant.

Our 7th Anniversary is fast approaching and our anniversary theme is "Let's Keep the Ball Rolling" for Aussie epilepsy research and that is precisely what we are doing by sponsoring a TF grant for Dr. Lohi. Please see our current ad in the July/August 2011 issue of the Australian Shepherd Journal and Aussie Times and on facebook and our website.

Progress is being made and outstanding research is being done. We appreciate the commitment and dedication of Drs. Patterson and Lohi and their research groups to canine epilepsy research and to the Australian Shepherd. Please continue to help us support the research to find the causative genes and develop a screening test by making a donation today. Your help is needed. Your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

If you haven't already, please donate a blood sample today to Dr. Ned Patterson's Aussie epilepsy research at the University of Minnesota on your affected dog and your dog 10 + years old that have never had a seizure.

We want to thank CA Sharp, President of the Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute (ASHGI) and the Board of Directors of ASHGI for their generous donation to co-sponsor this Toby's Foundation (TF) Grant Number 5-2011 for Dr. Hannes Lohi for Aussie epilepsy research. We very much appreciate ASHGI's support and their commitment to the health and well being of the Australian Shepherd. If you are interested in helping to sponsor this grant or any others please email us at tobysfoundation@tobysfoundation.org for information.

Your gifts help us to support the research to find the genes responsible for canine epilepsy and develop a screening test.

Please make Toby's Foundation part of your charitable giving. Toby's Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our Federal Tax Identification number is 74-3135217. Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law and helps us in our efforts to stop canine epilepsy. Please check with your employer about a Matching Gifts program.

If you would like to make a memorial or honorary gift to support canine epilepsy research, an acknowledgement card can be sent to whomever you specify.

We accept donations online (see link below) or you may mail your check to:

Toby's Foundation
P.O. Box 7321
Laguna Niguel , CA 92607

Please Donate

AussiE-Update Volume V, No. 39
July 6, 2011

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