How you can help

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is self supporting through fees charged for services.  While these funds help cover the basic costs of operating the laboratory, they do not fully support the laboratory’s ongoing research or potential for expansion. With the steadily increasing demand for our forensic testing services and the rapidly expanding wealth of knowledge in forensic genetics, continued research plays a key role in the future success of both the laboratory and the field of veterinary forensics.

Individuals, organizations, and businesses can help advance the Veterinary Genetics Forensic Laboratory in several ways:

• by making direct donations to support the lab’s work.
• by underwriting all or part of a research project, or
• by contributing toward the purchase of essential equipment.

Direct Donations: Cash contributions are the easiest and most direct way of making a gift:

• Make checks payable to The Regents of the University of California and include a notation that the gift is to be directed to the Veterinary Genetics Forensic Laboratory.  Mail to:

  Office of the Dean – Development
  School of Veterinary Medicine
  One Shields Ave.
  Davis CA 95616

• Credit card gifts may be made by calling (530) 752-7024.  Indicate that the gift is to be directed to the Veterinary Genetics Forensic Laboratory.
• For information about gifts of appreciated securities, please call (530) 752-7024.

Supporting Research: Following are several of the most pressing research projects —either underway or in planning —for which private support would be welcomed:

• Development of a quick and accurate method for determining the species of origin for forensic samples
• Development of an enhanced DNA test for individualizing cats in forensic investigations
• Assay development for improving discrimination between individual dog hairs
• Expansion of our DNA databases

Underwriting Equipment:  To keep pace with the increased demand for the laboratory's services, the lab is currently seeking funds to acquire the following items:

• Bar code system-$1800
• Spectrophotometer for quality control-$5,000
• Incubator for DNA extraction-$2,000
• Centrifuge for DNA extraction-$10,000
• Thermal cyclers for amplifying DNA (PCR)-$4400 each
• -80° freezer for long-term storage of samples-$12,000

For additional information about making a gift, please contact the School of Veterinary Medicine at (530) 752-7024.