VKH (UDS) Research Study Request

Preliminary work, in cooperation with the Akita Club of America, is being done on VKH/Vogt-Koyanagi-Haradi Syndrome (UDS/Uveodermatological Syndrome) by Dr. Neff at UC Davis.  Samoyeds have been asked to participate in this study.   

Owners of “affected” Samoyeds can request a collection kit from UC Davis for blood and have it drawn at their vet’s office.  If this isn't possible, you can submit "brush" cheek swabs, but blood is the specimen of choice for the research.   

The DNA collection kits are free, and UC Davis will send them directly to an owner's home.  Kits can be requested either directly from Mark Neff mwneff@ucdavis.edu or from Katy Robertson katy@ucdavis.edu.  If you would prefer to do the swabs, please say so when requesting the collection kit or you will be sent supplies for the blood collection.

NOTE:  The SCARF board has voted to  subsidize the shipping of the samples and collection fees per the following guidelines to help owners who would like to participate in the VKH protocol.