Kristin Simpson Graduate Student (Master Program) Major Professor: Dr. Anita Oberbauer Phone: (530)752-1046 FAX: (530)752-0175 Email: knsimpson@ucdavis.edu
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Education: 

B.S., Animal Science, UC Davis, California, 2002_
M.S., Animal Science, UC Davis, California, In Progress

Project Title: Canine Addison's Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)

My research investigates the genetics of Addison's Disease, a rare endocrine disorder characterized by low cortisol production from the adrenal cortex. This disease affects humans as well as dogs, cats, and sheep. Although members of the entire canine population may develop Addison's, the disease occurs in certain breeds with higher frequency. Hypoadrenocorticism has been proven to be highly heritable in the Standard Poodle and the Portuguese Water Dog. My research involves scanning candidate genes of major effect for Addison's Disease in these two breeds. The identification of a gene of major effect for Addison's will allow dog breeders to make informed breeding decisions, will contribute to the development of a genetic test for the disorder, and ultimately may eradicate this disease from certain canine populations.