Celebrating three years of the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™, including spoiler alert: a new genetic discovery!
By Dottie Brown, MS, DVM, DACVS, Vice President of Science and Healthcare Innovation, Mars Veterinary Health, and Janet Patterson-Kane, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Global Veterinary Science Partner, Mars Science & Diagnostics
Three years ago, we announced the world’s most comprehensive real-world study of pets: the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™. This ambitious project is gathering information from up to 20,000 cats and dogs over a period of more than 10 years on their health, genes, and lifestyle. Why? To find new ways to keep our pets – and future generations of pets – healthy.
Today, over 4,000 pets are enrolled in the study, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This growing database is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries in pet health.
This study is already helping us understand why some pets get sick, while others don’t and has the potential to help us find health problems early or prevent them completely. We aim to uncover how ways of eating, sleeping, playing, and behaving affect pet health at different life stages.
The Power of Biobanking
Biobanks have become fundamental engines driving scientific research, clinical trials, and personalized medicine. We can look at the Human Genome Project – one of the greatest scientific feats of all time – to see the powerful opportunity this presents for the future of healthcare, including pet health.
Scientists can access the full genome data collected from the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive, which is set to become the largest open-access collection of cat and dog genes in the world.
Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Progress
Establishing the world’s biggest pet biobank is not without its challenges. It requires a complex web of collaboration, expertise, and governance. Our initial years were focused on laying a strong foundation, building partnerships with veterinary clinics and educating and engaging pet owners. Now, with the foundational years behind us, we have made significant progress:
- Collaboration: We have built a robust network of veterinary professionals, geneticists, and data scientists who work together to ensure the biobank's success
- Data Integrity: We’ve implemented stringent data governance protocols to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the collected data
- Technological Advancements: We’re leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline data collection and analysis, ensuring accurate and timely insights
A landmark step: first study using data from the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™
The biobank data is already contributing to many ongoing research projects, including new research highlighting a new genetic discovery: a gene variant that increases the risk of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD)—a painful condition affecting up to 10–30% of dogs.
Using data from 1.2 million dogs, the study combined DNA samples from Wisdom Panel™, expertise and insights from our connected global Mars Veterinary Health network of clinics – including health data from Banfield Pet Hospital Optimum Wellness Plans® and verification from Linnaeus veterinary experts – and samples from the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ to confirm findings.
This powerful data mix led to the detection of the SLAMF1 variant in 71% of French Bulldogs and 40% of Boxers in the study, including that dogs with this the variant were twice as likely to develop cAD. This is the first time this gene has been linked to this condition in any species.
This is just one example of the kinds of revelations we can uncover with data-driven insights – and it could lead to better breeding choices and more personalized care.
What's next for the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™?
With fast-moving advances in science and technology like genomics and AI, and by taking a holistic approach to pet health, the biobank enables us to explore new ways of tackling important pet health challenges and veterinary professionals and pet owners alike to take a more proactive approach to pet healthcare for future generations to come, as we continue to advance our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
Learn more about the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ and read the cAD research.
