AKC Canine Health Foundation received the 2023 Asa Mays DVM Excellence in Canine Health Research Award from the AKC Canine Health Foundation on August 9.

The honor recognizes Johnson’s long-running work on genetic mutations that cause heritable diseases in domestic animals and highlights research efforts that have helped improve DNA testing to prevent producing affected puppies. His research is especially significant, as canine health research improves pets’ overall well-being by developing better methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. This, in turn, leads to longer, healthier lives for dogs, reinforcing the human–animal bond.

Johnson is an associate professor and director at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.

Johnson’s work dates back to the 1990s, when he began investigating the genetic changes behind inherited conditions in dogs and other domestic species. He and his colleagues were among the first to apply whole genome sequencing to identify mutations responsible for heritable canine diseases, a shift that the facts accompanying his award credit with advancing diagnostic testing and breeding decisions. Recent studies indicate that over half of dogs carry at least one known disease-associated genetic variant, underscoring the importance of these advancements.

The award was presented by the AKC Canine Health Foundation; the foundation’s announcement notes the selection of Johnson as the 2023 recipient. The recognition follows a separate funding development for the laboratory Johnson directs: last November the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals provided a $1.5 million gift to fund a new director of the Canine Molecular Genetics Laboratory.

Johnson framed the award in pragmatic terms, linking it to practical improvements in canine health. “I’ve been unable to convince my friends that the Asa Mays Award is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for canine genetics; however, I consider it to be a great honor and an acknowledgment that DNA testing to avoid the production of puppies predestined to develop heritable diseases has substantially improved the collective health of our canine pet population,” he said. Pet owners can further ensure that their dogs are healthy and genetically sound by obtaining pets from breeders who follow recommended breed-specific health and genetic testing.

Colleagues and institutional announcements accompanying the award emphasize the laboratory’s role in translating genetic discoveries into tests that breeders and veterinarians can use. Those earlier applications of whole genome sequencing helped move research from mapping single genes toward identifying complex or rare variants across the canine genome.

The timing of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals gift, announced last November, provides dedicated funding tied specifically to the Canine Molecular Genetics Laboratory and its leadership. That injection of support is intended to sustain and expand the lab’s capacity to carry out genetic studies and to develop testing resources for inherited conditions in dogs, which are increasingly significant as studies show a large percentage of dogs are impacted by genetic health issues.

Institutional leaders at the University of Missouri marked the award as recognition of a career spent on canine and comparative genetics. The combination of long-term research, early adoption of whole genome sequencing, and recent philanthropic support positioned Johnson’s laboratory to continue producing genetic tests and research that inform breeding practices and clinical diagnosis.

Johnson’s Asa Mays award adds to a record of contributions to veterinary genetics and to efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of heritable disease through DNA-based screening. The award was bestowed on August 9 by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, and the laboratory’s expansion was buoyed by the $1.5 million gift announced last November from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

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Original reporting: view the original article.