OFFICIALS of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine opened the $16million Center for Companion Animal Health on Wednesday, July 14, 2004, when guests and their pets enjoyed tours of the newest facility of the school and learned of an advance in feline genetics.
The new center unites existing facilities and expands services. For example, the expansion triples capacity for oncology services, supporting up to 3600 patients per year with chemotherapy, radiation procedures, immunotherapy and other innovative remedies.
The glass-fronted, two-story structure contains 36,000 square feet of clinical and research space that, in addition to the cancer units, houses a linear accelerator, physical therapy facility and a comfortable reception area for specialty services in ophthalmology, behaviour, neurology, cardiology, companion avian/exotics medicine and dermatology.
Outside, a memorial garden honours the ancient bond between dogs and humans.
Upstairs, laboratories support the investigation of naturally occurring cancers and genetic diseases in small animals. These labs are also especially equipped to help teach veterinary students, train specialty residents and mentor graduate researchers.
Geneticist Leslie A. Lyons announced at the launch that her laboratory team had discovered the genetic mutation that causes polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in cats. Up to 80 percent of fancy cats are susceptible to this serious disease, which also occurs in humans.
More information will follow regarding discovery of PKD mutation and development of a diagnostic test to identify the disease. See the article on the website: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/
