Dog Gene Discovery May Unlock Addison's Clues For Humans

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers could offer insights into the autoimmune disease.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:36am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, brown, and ochre, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex genetic and autoimmune forces at play in Addison's disease.Genetic research on a rare canine autoimmune condition could unlock new insights into the underlying causes of Addison's disease in humans.Davis Today

Researchers have identified a gene variant in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, a dog breed with an unusually high rate of Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones. The discovery of the RESF1 gene's association with Addison's in dogs could lead to new insights into the autoimmune disease in humans.

Why it matters

Addison's disease is a rare but serious condition in humans, and the high prevalence in tollers provides a natural model to study the genetic underpinnings of the disease. Identifying the RESF1 gene as a potential factor could open new avenues for research into the causes and treatment of Addison's in both dogs and people.

The details

The team, led by Professor Danika Bannasch at UC Davis, found that the RESF1 gene is strongly associated with Addison's disease in tollers. This gene is similar across species, including humans, but has not previously been linked to Addison's or multiple autoimmune syndrome in people. The researchers believe tollers could serve as a natural model for studying these conditions, potentially offering insights relevant to both veterinary and human medicine.

  • The study was published on March 12, 2026 in Scientific Reports.

The players

Danika Bannasch

Professor and Maxine Adler Endowed Chair of Genetics at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, who led the research team.

Emily Brown

Graduate student at UC Davis and co-author of the study.

Scarlett Varney

Graduate student at UC Davis and co-author of the study.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of America

Provided funding support for the research.

UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory

Offers a genetic test to help breeders avoid producing affected dogs.

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What they’re saying

“Tollers could be a natural model for multiple autoimmune syndrome, potentially offering insights relevant to both veterinary and human medicine.”

— Danika Bannasch, Professor and Maxine Adler Endowed Chair of Genetics

What’s next

Researchers plan to further investigate the RESF1 gene as a potential candidate for Addison's disease in humans, building on the insights gained from the dog study.

The takeaway

This discovery highlights the value of studying naturally occurring diseases in animals, as it can uncover genetic clues that may unlock new understanding and treatment approaches for analogous human conditions.