The
CIRM and CIRM faculty are currently conducting several clinical trials
evaluating stem cell therapy for treatment of diseases of dogs and cats. These trials are supported by several
non-profit organizations, including the Shipley Foundation, the Eldred
Foundation, and the Canine Health Foundation. Eligibility for each trial will be determined by trial coordinators, and
for the studies listed below, treatment must be received at the CSU Veterinary
Teaching Hospital. Typically clinical
trials will pay a portion of or in some cases all the costs associated with the
stem cell treatment.
Eligibility: Dogs with chronic (> 2 weeks duration) bacterial infections with known drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are eligible for entry into a funded clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of activated MSC therapy.
Contact:
Dr. Valerie Johnson (Valerie.Johnson@colostate.edu)
Dr. Steven Dow (Steven.Dow@colostate.edu)
Stem cell therapy for canine wound healing
Eligibility: Dogs eligible for this study will have large
cutaneous wounds that cannot be managed by simple suturing, and typically
require multiple bandage changes weekly. Infected cutaneous wounds are also eligible. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of
mesenchymal stem cells (obtained from young donor dogs) imbedded in a
biological matrix for stimulation of more rapid wound healing and infection
control. Eligible patients must be in
good overall health, and not be receiving concurrent immune suppressive or
immune modulatory therapy. The study
will involve twice weekly topical treatments with stem cells in matrix
material, and costs of stem cell treatment are covered by the study.
Contact:
Dr. Valerie Johnson (Valerie.Johnson@colostate.edu)
Dr. Steven Dow (Steven.Dow@colostate.edu)
Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis in dogs
Eligibility: Dogs
with chronic osteoarthritis (> 6 months duration) of the elbow, knee or hip are
eligible for a study investigating the effectiveness of treatment with
mesenchymal stem cells (derived from fat tissues of unrelated donor dogs) for
relief of joint pain and reduction of joint inflammation. The stem cells will be administered by direct
injection into the joint, for a series of 3 treatments at 2-week
intervals. The study will require brief
sedation for the joint injections and for collection of joint fluid
samples. Costs of stem cells will be
covered, as will study costs of joint injections and fluid collections. Study eligible dogs must be in good general
health and not currently receiving immune suppressive therapy. Treatment with NSAID drugs is allowable
during the study, but new drug treatments are not allowed during the 8-week study
period.
Contact:
Dr. Felix Duerr (Felix.Duerr@colostate.edu)