H.E.A.R.T. is an acronym for Havanese Eye Angels Research Team.

It was founded in 1999, and incorporated in 2001 as an independent organization to support research into cataracts and other heritable eye disease in the Havanese, and to educate the public about health issues in the breed.

 

A 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, H.E.A.R.T. has through the years funded several studies in support of its mission.

Most recently, between 2003 and 2007, H.E.A.R.T raised and donated over $240,000.00 directly to the Murphy Lab at Texas A&M University for the Havanese Genetics Project. 

 

In addition to research support, H.E.A.R.T., through specially earmarked private donations, covered medical bills in excess of $5,000.00 for 2 Havanese - one dog in need of bilateral cataract surgery, and another requiring a bilateral ulnar osteotomy to correct legs bowed from chondrodysplasia. In both cases, the cost of the surgery was reduced significantly by the participating veterinary surgeons. H.E.A.R.T. would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr.Kirk Gelatt  ACVO Diplomate and Kenneth R Sinibaldi DVM ACVS Diplomate for their kindness, generosity, and expertise.

 

H.E.A.R.T. commends the Havanese community for its support of all educational, scientific and charitable endeavors on behalf of the Havanese breed over the years, and especially appreciates the diligence and collective talent of the Murphy Lab in its pursuit of research on the health issues associated with Ockham Syndrome. (Ockham Syndrome is the name assigned by H.E.A.R.T for research purposes to an array of developmental disorders in the breed, including cataracts and chondrodysplasia, hypothesized to be caused by a single underlying biochemical disorder.)

 

The Havanese Genetics Project, which remains ongoing at TAMU under the direction of Dr Keith Murphy, has published its preliminary findings in the August issue of Journal of Heredity.

One of over 200 papers presented at the 3rd International Conference on the Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, August 3–5, 2006, with Alison Starr as primary author, and one of 25 selected for publication in the JofH,  it was one of only 5 peer-reviewed papers selected to grace the cover of this noted scientific journal.

For those interested, the paper itself is available online at:
Hereditary Evaluation of Multiple Developmental Abnormalities in the Havanese Dog Breed

 

Having fulfilled its commitment to the Havanese Genetics Project, which will continue with funding from other sources, H.E.A.R.T. is no longer soliciting donations, and the corporation will be dissolved per its bylaws. Following payment of accounting expenses for 2007, all remaining funds will be donated to the Murphy Lab for DNA research. A current financial report follows.