Project Updates
quote . . . "all good things take time, great things take a little longer."
'Patience' seems to be the key ingredient necessary for anyone involved or even remotely interested in what's happening regards the Leogen Diversity Project. The genetic diversity discussion has been around for quite some time now.
We know that if you have been chatting amongst fellow friends and Leonberger communities and if you have discovered this website, you have a reasonable understanding of what this project hopes to achieve.
However, by now you are most likely wondering what's been happening these days because all the hype, noise and chatter seems to have gone quiet. Rest assured quiet does not mean inactive, it just means there is a fair amount of necessary administration and documentation happening in the background to ensure the project moves forward.
We can share with you some goal posts set and achieved thus far . . .
We know that if you have been chatting amongst fellow friends and Leonberger communities and if you have discovered this website, you have a reasonable understanding of what this project hopes to achieve.
However, by now you are most likely wondering what's been happening these days because all the hype, noise and chatter seems to have gone quiet. Rest assured quiet does not mean inactive, it just means there is a fair amount of necessary administration and documentation happening in the background to ensure the project moves forward.
We can share with you some goal posts set and achieved thus far . . .
- The Institute of Genetics at the University of Bern has agreed to directly support the project.
- Established support from Embark, the leading canine DNA profiling company.
- We have a core team, which is made up of our geneticist, our treasurer, and the three participating breeder teams .
- Establishing an Advisory Group to give access to world-class expertise in the fields of genetics, canine reproduction, breeding and judging.
- Financial framework. With help of donations from three Leonberger clubs we have begun the process to establish a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to act as a legal entity to manage the project.
- Initial meetings with solicitors are underway.
- The entire project will have a secure legal and financially transparent base.
- We are progressing on our data/DNA research into what breeds / sources to draw on for our initial crosses.
- Progressing with negotiations with the relevant Kennel Clubs on how to handle the registration of Leogen progeny.
- The first official LEOGEN Genetic Diversity Project newsletter has been published and circulated. see here August 2024
- The LEOGEN team are really pleased to be able to share with you a handful of letters received from various groups offering support and acknowledging interest in the project. swiss_leonberger_club.pdf leonberger_health_foundation_international.pdf leonberger_club_of_finland.pdf leonberger_club_great_britain.pdf deutscher_club_für_leonberger_hunde.pdf guide_dogs_for_blind_foundation_uk.pdf