Low-Pass Whole Genome Sequencing: Equipping the Working Dog Field with Next-Generation Genetic Tools Through Research Partnerships – presented by Frances Chen

Abstract coming soon.

Frances is a veterinary scientist and currently an Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School, specializing in comparative companion animal genomics and translational research. As a faculty member in Elinor Karlsson’s Vertebrate Genomics research group at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, she collaborates with Darwin’s Ark, a nonprofit community science initiative engaging pet owners and working dog organizations to advance genetic discovery.

Frances completed her DVM/PhD at Cornell University under a National Institutes of Health F30 fellowship for clinician-scientists, focusing on genetics. She was previously recruited to the founding team of Loyal, a biotech startup developing longevity therapeutics for dogs, where she led veterinary clinical studies and engaged in regulatory discussions with the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. She leverages her experience in both academia and industry to identify opportunities for research collaboration, facilitating partnerships that bridge scientific discovery with real-world applications in veterinary medicine and canine genetics.

Having raised 15 guide and service dog puppies for three major working dog organizations, Frances has a particular passion for applying genetics to improve working dog health and performance. In partnership with the International Working Dog Registry, her work aims to align genomic discovery with genetic selection, driving research relevant to human health and innovations that can directly improve canine health and performance.