At the Bochum University Prof. Dr. Med. J. Epplen and Dr. G. Dekomien will start up (obviously in Febr. 2007) a scientific research project to find the DNA marker for PRA. The DNA of affected Glens will be compared to the DNA of (still) PRA-free Glens. Prof. Epplen concentrates the research on one or two specific family trees; e.g. some descendants of Captain Kirk of Jeonty, Princess Leia of Jeonty and Molly Maggone of Glenbrows.
If they succeed in finding the unhealthy gene in the DNA it will be possible in the future to clearly identify affected dogs and carriers from free dogs by doing a DNA gene test. This allows breeders to plan breedings with a certain guarantee not to produce any pups that will be PRA-affected.

Short history of how the Bochum DNA research project started.

Mrs. Jean Rogers (Gbr.) and Mrs. Stefanie Blänkner (Germ.) visited Prof. Dr. J. Epplen and Dr. G. Dekomien at the Ruhr-University Bochum to discuss how to start up the PRA-DNA genetic research project for the Glen of Imaal Terrier.
It was soon clear that if we could comply with some preconditions there really was a good chance that the Gen of Imaal Terrier could be part of this research project.
The preconditions were: Provide a very reliable pedigree drawing containing at least 3 generations with PRA- affected and carrier dogs. Create a list with all involved dogs and their individual pedigree data. Collect blood samples of most of these dogs and sent these to Bochum.
The instructions were clear.
Even if this scientific research project would be subsidized for the greater part Prof. Epplen told us that we still need to spend a certain amount of money; about € 15.000 to € 20.000. This is necessary to buy several consumable articles like enzymes, chemicals etc.
He expected that this project would last for 1 to 1.5 years. He was very positive in his estimation to succeed and to find the marker for PRA.

A few days later during the famous “Glen Treffen” in Witten (Germany), Jean and Stefanie told all interested Glen people about their meeting with Dr. Epplen.
Jean said she needed blood samples from descendants of Princess Leia of Jeonty, Captain Kirk of Jeonty en Molly Maggone of Glenbrows. This family tree seemed to fit to the requirements of Prof. Epplen. The involved dogs are mostly still alive and live in England, Finland, Norway, Scotland, Denmark, Germany and in Holland. So there was also blood needed from Dutch Glens for Bochum. We spontaneously offered our help to collect the blood from the Dutch Glens.
Only one month later, June 27th, we shipped the first Dutch blood to Bochum. Please read our report of this event. From that moment on the blood from all other countries arrived in Bochum. We want to thank all those who offered the blood from their beloved Glen or helped us with the collecting and shipping; in one word ‘fantastic’!
Jean spent many nightly hours to complete the first hand drawing of the family tree and when it was finished Stefanie made an appointment with Dr. Dekomien to show our proceedings and to discuss how to go on. The question was ‘Is this what they expect from us and what else is still needed’?

A delegation, existing of Mrs. Jean Rogers, Mrs. Stefanie Blänkner, Mr. Theo Peters and Mr. Huub van Benthum, visited Dr. Dekomien at the Ruhr-University.
Dr. Dekomien was very satisfied about the great number of blood samples that already was collected and registered. The enormous pedigree drawing looks perfect to her and she asked us to check the information at least twice because it is extremely important that the pedigree information is reliable and correct. Besides that she preferred to receive a digital version of this pedigree drawing; they normally use MS Visio-software. Theo offered to take care of this conversion. Our policy was to do these time devouring jobs by ourselves so the scientists can concentrate purely on the research part of the project.

Jean told us to travel to Finland to discuss the project with Finnish breeders and to organize the missing blood samples. Again a great initiative.
Dr. Dekomien also would like to have the blood of about 10 or 12 Glens, which were not (or as less as possible) related to the Glens involved in the research project. Huub will provide a special database query to select in an easy way the requested dog names.
We demonstrated our web database and because Dr. Dekomien thought the presented information could be very useful for them we created a special Bochum account in order to give them unlimited access to our database. If the Bochum blood sample numbers would have been added to the dog names it might be even more helpful to them. Theo promised to do so.
Dr. Dekomien admired the efforts of the Glen community to deliver the necessary information. Then she showed a global project schedule.
As already said before the research project could mainly be subsidized and for that reason Prof. Epplen will provide a request for subsidy to the G.K.F. (Gesellschaft zur Förderung Kynologischer Forschung). An exhaustive proposal, based on the supplied information and blood samples, would make the chance finding the DNA-marker very realistic. In January 2007 they can expect an official approval to start. Dr. Dekomien told us to be very confident about a positive decision.

After the last meeting in Bochum many things came to an effect; Jean’s trip to Finland resulted in more blood samples; the number of samples increased to 145 at this moment. Stefanie kept in good contact with Bochum and did other necessary pr-work in Germany.
We created the digital family tree and did some relationship calculations. The setup of this drawing, which should contain all 145 involved Glens, was a tremendous job which cost us many, many days of work. But now it is ready and the result is very impressive. We now easily can add or change information. This pedigree drawing will the basic of the project.
We are glad to inform you that all our efforts have led to an unofficial approval. We have to be confident that the project will start in February 2007. Due to the huge quantity of the provided blood samples and the quality of the other provided information the Glen of Imaal Terrier breed is selected to be the first breed (of 4 breeds!) to start with. Therefore we want to thank all people who participated in one or another way to achieve this first success.
But there is still a long way to go. The next meeting in Bochum is planned in January. In the meantime we try to further improve our digital family tree and you could possibly help us to achieve a 100% errorless document. If you are interested and willing to check (parts of) this enormous drawing please send an email to info@glenofeden.nl and we will submit this document to you. We will appreciate your interest and help very much. We expect your comment back before January 7th; this gives us the time to process the changings and to print a few A0-color pictures of this drawing for the Bochum research team.
It is much to appreciate that in a few countries there are some initiatives raised to collect money. At the end of July we have started our PRA-fund. So if the health of the Glen of Imaal Terrier has a warm place in your heart, we would like to ask you for a small gift.
We have to realize that only all together we can bring such an important project to a good end. It is delighted to see that some kind of an international co-operation is born yet.

After a period of nervous waiting, Stefanie brought us the fantastic news that the G.K.F. took a positive decision to subsidize the Bochum PRA research Project. For at least 1.5 years they will pay the veterinarian who is in charge of this project. This fantastic news means that the project definitely will start with our breed the Glen of Imaal Terriër.

We made the trip to Bochum again in order to officially hand over the final version of the pedigree drawing and to install a new software release to handle the digital pedigree files.
Besides a 'normal' printed drawing we brought with us a supersized (1.75 mtr x 2.30 mtr.) wall paper which we attached to the corridor wall of Prof. Epplens laboratory. Prof. Epplen en Dr. Dekomien were very impressed when seeing the result of our efforts.
On behalf of the Dutch Association we handed over some Glen souvenirs to the employees of the department. They were very honoured with it and asked us to thank the Association for this unexpected surprise.

Standing in front of the huge pedigree drawing you see on the left hand side prof. Epplen and on the right hand side dr. Dekomien.


Prof. Epplen confirmed that the start of the project definitive would take place on the 2nd of May.
This is the first working day of drs. Regina Kropatsch who will be in charge to manage together with dr. Dekomien the research project.
Although it is known that the PRA-gene is not the same across the different dog breeds, a quickscan will be done in order to achieve a quick result by testing the prcd-gene first, because this DNA-gene showed already in 18 dog breeds (Optigen) a mutation. If the result of the quickscan is negative a screening of a part of the genome, in which it is resonable to believe the particular gene is located, will be carried out.
By using our huge pedigree tree they try to find differences in the DNA-patterns between the appointed "Affected" and "Carrier" dogs.
After that they try to reduce the research area up to 600 genes, all related to eye diseases.
Then, one by one, these genes will be checked using techniques like genetic linking analysis. If this doesn't lead to success the screening will be extended to the whole genome. Due to this approach the period of time needed to have success can strongly vary from several months up to a few years. So let's pray lady Fortuna will give them a helping hand.
DNA-research will also give a definite answer whether the appointed sires in the pedigree drawing are the real sires. In case of any inadequacies Prof. Epplen will not give us nor anybody else detailed information. Such an occurrence means a certain depreciation of our pedigree tree and it could possible hamper the research project. Because the project finally will concentrate on a certain part of the huge pedigree tree this shouldn't be a major problem at the beginning. So which part of the tree is used depends on a number of factors e.g. many affected dogs, carriers and above all correct pedigrees. If required, we will help again to create an electronic version of this final (detailed) pedigree.
Furthermore Prof. Epplen asked us to deliver the blood samples of the 10 'less related' Glens with extremely low PRA-risk preferably in the first week of May.
This is not an easy task because all Glens are more or less related to eachother. Prof. Epplen rated an average inbreed percentage of over 18% (source:Glenofeden Database) of the total Glen population as very high.
More genetic variation should be brought in the breeding programs just to avoid the loss of more genes and to make the breed less vulnerable to unfavourable influences (like PRA).
It is not necessary to be a genetic specialist to achieve more genetic variation in the breeding programs. A simple fist rule will do: look for a combination with no double names in 4 generations.
So variation is one aspect and an in-dept PRA-risk analysis based on pedigrees is another important aspect to avoid new PRA-cases and to give the breed a healthy future again.
As a result of that policy there certainly will be dogs which cannot be used for breeding due to their high PRA-risk.
It is joyfull that the members of the Dutch Association on their yearly meeting in February almost unanimous voted for a risk analysis of each planned combination; this analysis will be carried out by the Committee of Health.
Back to the 'refence Glens'. In January this year Huub developed a special database query to compose a shortlist containing a large number af possible candidates for this reference group so we could start very quickly. Stefanie and Theo would try to organise the blood of 5 Glens in Germany, the Netherlands and Tjechoslovakia and Jean would do the same in the UK.

Almost one year after our first contacts with the Bochum University we are proud to announce you that the PRA Research Project definitely has started on the 2nd of May. The blood samples of the 10 reference Glens came available and were shipped to Bochum.
Again we admire the great spontaneousness of the involved Glen owners to cooperate with us in this project. Fantastic, thank you so much.

The preparations are nearly finished and so it is now up to the scientists to achieve results in order to fulfill our wishes. Of course we'll keep you informed about the further progressions made by the research team.

The PRA Research Project is partly subsidized by the G.K.F. so it is up to the Glen community to provide the rest of the necessary money (appr. €20.000). With this money the research team can buy several consumable articles needed for the project like enzymes, chemicals etc. Some private funds have already been raised in few countries. The owners will then transfer the money to the PRA Project account number of the Bochum Ruhr-University.
If you want to contribute directly to this account please use the following instructions:

Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Humangenetik
Prof. Dr. med. J.T. Epplen
Universitätsstr. 150
D – 44780 Bochum

Financial institution: Sparkasse Bochum
Bank code number: 430 500 01
Account number: 1486794
BIC: WELADED1BOC
IBAN: DE98430500010001486794
Intended purpose: Genomscreen PRA for Glen of Imaal Terrier/92000/28211/821 48 168

It is very important to mention this intended purpose when you make your payment, because if it is missing, the money will not arrive there.

As we were told, you can get donation certificates from € 1000 up per payment. If you want get it, you can write a letter to the above mentioned address (To the attention of Mrs. Vogel) and ask for it. Further details concerning the amount of the payment, name of the donator and the address for the donation certificate are than needed, too.


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