Area of Research:

Genetics of spontaneous companion animal models of disease. Genomic prediction of disease risk.

Primary Mentor:

Peter Muir BVSc, MVetClinStud, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, ECVS, FRCVS Professor

Comparative Genetics Laboratory University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine 2015 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706 [email protected] 608-263-9819

https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/lab/corl/

Dr. Muir has more than 30 years of clinical experience working with companion animal diseases. His work focuses on genetic discovery in companion animals. He is a trainer with the Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine (CIBM) and the Genomic Sciences Training Programs (GSTP) on the UW Madison campus. He has received extramural funding for canine and equine genomics research including R funding from NIH.

Mentoring Team:

Guilherme J.M. Rosa PhD Professor

Department of Animal Science

Dr. Rosa has developed research at the interface between statistical/theoretical and molecular genetics, focusing on applications to animal models in domestic/managed and natural populations including estimates of heritability, segregation analysis, and statistical approaches for GWAS, particularly through use of Bayesian statistical models.

Corinne D. Engelman PhD Associate Professor

Department of Population Health Sciences

Dr. Engelman has focused on GWAS, gene-environment interactions and genetic risk prediction in complex traits for over 15 years. She has expertise in study design and methodological approaches including consideration of population stratification to uncover gene-environment interactions in common complex human disease and used this scientific knowledge to develop precision medicine approaches for human patient care.

Gillian J. McLellan BVMS, DECVO, DACVO, DVOphthal, PhD Associate Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology Department of Surgical Sciences

Dr. McLellan has over 25 years of clinical and research experience in companion animal ophthalmology and is internationally recognized for her expertise in comparative ophthalmology. She holds a unique joint faculty appointment in the SVM and the SMPH. Current extramurally (including NIH) funded projects focus on gene expression and extracellular matrix biology in ocular tissues in a spontaneously arising feline genetic model of pediatric glaucoma, as well as the molecular genetic basis of glaucoma in spontaneous canine and feline ophthalmic disease, applying “omics” approaches to understanding glaucoma pathophysiology.

Susannah J. Sample DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS Assistant Professor of Small Animal General Surgery Department of Surgical Sciences

Dr. Sample has 6 years of experience with spontaneously occurring animal models of disease. She is a veterinary clinician scientist studying spontaneous canine models of inherited peripheral neuropathy and osteosarcoma. Current extramurally funded projects focus on whole genome sequencing approaches to genetic dissection of disease.

Potential Research Projects

The long-term research goal of the Comparative Genetics Laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine is to advance studies of important translational companion animal genomic models. Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) include studies of ACL rupture in the Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler, late onset laryngeal paralysis in the Labrador Retriever, fibrotic myopathy in the German Shepherd Dog, osteosarcoma in the Irish Wolfhound, and degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis in the Peruvian Horse. To inform research approaches, particularly for studies of common complex diseases in dogs, and advance knowledge of breed-related structural variation, we are also working on building high quality breed-specific reference level genome assemblies for several dog and horse breeds of interest. Our vision is to use discovery -omics-based research to characterize and mechanistically dissect the molecular pathology of spontaneous animal models of disease through genome wide association study (GWAS), whole genome sequencing (WGS), and transcriptomic,metabolomic, and proteomic approaches.

Additional Training Opportunities:

A wide range of common human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, osteoarthritis, ophthalmic, neurogenerative and behavioral disorders are prevalent in companion animals. Companion animal species have a breed structure created by centuries of intense artificial selection for physical and behavioral traits. This dramatic genetic experiment has led to a rich portfolio of breed-associated inherited diseases in companion animals through linkage to desirable traits. There is growing recognition on the part of NIH of the scientific value of spontaneous animal models of disease and great opportunities to leverage extramural federal funding in this area.

The long-term research goal of the Comparative Genetics Laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine is to advance studies of important translational companion animal genomic models. Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) include studies of ACL rupture in the Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler, late onset laryngeal paralysis in the Labrador Retriever, fibrotic myopathy in the German Shepherd Dog, osteosarcoma in the Irish Wolfhound, and degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis in the Peruvian Horse. To inform research approaches, particularly for studies of common complex diseases in dogs, and advance knowledge of breed-related structural variation, we are also working on building high quality breed-specific reference level genome assemblies for several dog and horse breeds of interest. Our vision is to use discovery -omics-based research to characterize and mechanistically dissect the molecular pathology of spontaneous animal models of disease through genome- wide association study (GWAS), whole genome sequencing (WGS), and transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic approaches.

Contact Information for Interested Potential Trainees:

Peter Muir BVSc, MVetClinStud, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, ECVS, FRCVS Professor

Comparative Genetics Laboratory University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine 2015 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706 [email protected] 608-263-9819

https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/lab/corl/