Berner-Garde Foundation and Michigan State University, with support from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, have established a repository that will collect, store and maintain DNA and tissue samples from a large population of BMDs, whether affected with a disorder or not, along with pedigree and medical history information. MSU is providing a repository that will store and catalog DNA and tissue samples for future health research purposes, and will use available state of the art diagnostic evaluation of submitted specimens, as well. The samples that will be stored for future research purposes include blood samples, cheek swabs, preserved tissue biopsy samples, and fresh frozen tumor tissue.

These samples have been used in a variety of research projects that will hopefully prove helpful to the health of our Bernese Mountain Dogs.