Photo: Shutterstock
Elinor Karlsson, PhD, founder of the community-powered pet science nonprofit Darwin’s Ark, is teaming up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to establish a comprehensive database of cat genomics. The joint effort, called Darwin’s Cats, brings together the innovative community science model of Darwin’s Ark with the scientific expertise of the Broad Institute and UMass Chan Medical School and will receive funding and expertise from Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Dr. Karlsson, the Dr. Eileen L. Berman and Stanley I. Berman Foundation Chair in Biomedical Research and associate professor of genomics & computational biology at UMass Chan, is a world-renowned vertebrate geneticist whose work has revolutionized our understanding of companion animal behavior and disease. She will lead the project’s research. Her team will investigate cat population structure, heritability and the genetic mapping of traits, with the goal of advancing both feline and human health.
“The Darwin’s Cats partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to scientific discovery and the belief that enhanced understanding of feline genetics will lead to better care and health for cats everywhere,” said Karlsson, who is also director of the Vertebrate Genomics Group at the Broad Institute and chief scientist at Darwin’s Ark. “But what makes the partnership a game changer for feline research is the unique combination of expertise, resources and community connections.”
Joining Karlsson on the project are Kasia Bryc, PhD, senior research scientist at the Broad Institute and director of scientific engagement at Darwin’s Ark; and veterinarian and geneticist Frances Chen, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of genomics and computational biology at UMass Chan. The team will analyze cat DNA; map behavioral, physical and health traits; and lay the groundwork for scientific discoveries that could benefit both cats and people.
Photo: Bryan Goodchild
Darwin’s Cats combines genetic data with owner-reported insights on each cat’s appearance, behavior and health to create a large-scale database. Thanks to contributions from thousands of cat owners, Darwin’s Cats database will provide its research partners and other science collaborators with a powerful resource to accelerate discovery research and scientific breakthroughs.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Hill’s and our incredible scientific partners to bring community power to the question of cats,” said Jill Simmons, interim CEO of Darwin’s Ark. “This isn’t just about decoding DNA—it’s about empowering cat lovers to be part of scientific discovery that will lead to brighter futures for our feline friends.”
As the initiative’s funder, Hill’s was the catalyst that brought the partners together to build a repository of cat data that will allow researchers to explore the genetic drivers of traits, behaviors and diseases. While the initial research will focus on foundational knowledge about feline genetics, Darwin’s Cats data could one day help identify genetic risk factors for common health conditions, like diabetes and kidney disease, paving the way for better prevention and treatment.
“At Hill’s, we’re passionate about advancing pet health through scientific discovery and genomics,” said Jennifer Radosevich, PhD, senior vice president of research and innovation at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “This collaboration is a perfect example of how community-driven research and exploratory science can transform the future of pet care.”
With more than 10,000 cats enrolled, Darwin’s Cats is the world’s largest community-powered study of feline genetics. In partnership with cat owners, Darwin’s Ark is building the most comprehensive database of feline behavioral and genetic information ever assembled. As an open science resource, this data will power foundational research by Darwin’s Cats’ scientific partners and the broader feline research community to better understand cat behavior, genetics, and health.
