A simple DNA test for dogs is doing more than revealing breeds and quirks—it’s accelerating scientific research and improving canine health, thanks to a growing partnership between Embark Veterinary and Cornell University.
Embark, co-founded by brothers Adam and Ryan Boyko in 2015, has built the world’s largest canine genetic database with samples from over 2.5 million dogs. The company’s tests screen for more than 270 genetic health risks and use over 230,000 markers per sample. The data is now powering studies at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine and beyond.
“It would take a very long time in an academic setting to build up a dataset of a million dogs,” said Adam Boyko, who is also an associate professor of biomedical sciences at Cornell. “You can use that to help the researchers with their study and increase the sample size and power.”
That data is aiding researchers like Jacquelyn Evans, who studies pannus, an eye disease common in German shepherds that can lead to blindness. The condition often appears later in life, after dogs have been trained for roles in law enforcement or as service animals. Evans is working to identify the genetic markers behind the disease, with the goal of enabling earlier detection and prevention.
“If we can identify the markers, we can make informed breeding decisions,” Evans said. “We can also screen dogs early and implement preventive care like UV protection.”
Heather Huson, another Cornell researcher, has tapped into Embark’s data to study sled dogs. Her team discovered that some carry a mutation linked to ichthyosis, a skin condition causing dryness and irritation. In sled dogs, it was tied to harness rub, a skin issue often misattributed to poor gear rather than genetics.
“They don’t really think of genetics, so that was an interesting finding we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t genotyped with Embark,” said Huson, associate professor of animal science.
Embark’s roots trace back to Cornell’s Center for Life Science Ventures, where it received early support through mentorship and investor connections. Today, its tests continue to feed back into Cornell labs, allowing scientists to compare breeds and uncover genetic mysteries across dog populations.
For Boyko, the partnership is a full-circle success. “I’m happy that it worked out not just for Cornell and Embark,” he said, “but also for science in general.”
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].