Baker Institute |  Faculty

Gregory M. Acland, BVSc

Professor of Medical Genetics

Inherited Eye Disease Studies Unit

Retinal fundus photo of a Briard affected with congenital stationary night blindness. As is typical in this disease, the retina appears completely normal when viewed with an ophthalmoscope.

The aim of our research is to identify genes involved in canine hereditary disorders that affect the eye. This information will help us to understand the pathology and potential therapies for those disorders. We will be able to develop genetic tests that can identify affected and carriers dogs before they are bred. We have recently mapped genes for cone degradation, progressive rod-cone degeneration and early retinal degeneration and developed genetic tests for progressive rod-cone degeneration in and congenital stationary night blindness. In collaboration with Dr. Ostrander of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, we established the Canine Reference Family DNA Distribution Center, a collaborative arrangement between Cornell and Ralston Purina to make available to canine genetics researchers a panel of DNA samples forming the canine map.