![]() Making an impact through research Giving back through clinical research and medicine is important for Shaffer, who has authored more than 300 medical publications and four books relating to genetics. “We wanted to just offer everything possible for dogs and cats in one place.” ![]() “Our goal is to just be the genetics resource for dogs and cats,” she said. Paw Print Genetics launched its first set of genetic dog tests in 2013 and quickly grew to become a dominant company among other genetic testing laboratories nationwide, in part, because of its customer service and large variety of tests, Shaffer said. “We thought we would provide genetic services for companion animals, starting with dogs and, so, we started with Paw Print Genetics.” “We found some pretty interesting things in primate chromosomes, and I’ve always been interested in animals and helping animals, but I wanted to do something where we can make a big impact,” Shaffer said. When she was at Baylor College of Medicine and Signature Genomic Laboratories, she worked on a few cases for zoos in which she examined primate chromosomes. Paw Print GeneticsĪfter Signature Genomic Laboratories was acquired, Shaffer wanted to continue working in genetics. Shaffer was also a professor at Washington State University’s School of Molecular Biosciences from 2002-2008. The company, which conducted diagnostic testing for chromosomal abnormalities that result in developmental disabilities, grew to 120 employees before being acquired by PerkinElmer Inc. ![]() In 1991, Shaffer became a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Molecular and Human Genetics in Houston, a position she held for nearly 12 years before moving to Spokane in 2002.Īfter moving to Spokane, Shaffer launched Signature Genomic Laboratories with seed funding from Sacred Heart Medical Center. “I found that very fascinating, and right then and there, I decided that’s what I was going to do. But when it comes to your genetics, you need a perfect balance of half your genes from your mom and half your genes from your dad, and if you have missing or extra pieces of your genome, it can cause medical problems,” Shaffer said. Because, you know, we’re taught that more is better. Shaffer’s interest in genetics was sparked in a high school biology class where she learned about children with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra chromosome 21. She obtained a doctoral degree in human genetics at the Medical College of Virginia in 1990. Shaffer grew up in Kennewick and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. ![]() So, we’ve been busy.” A career in genetics “The people who work with us are mostly breeders testing their dogs to make sure they’re producing genetically healthy puppies and the breeders continue to produce litters. During the pandemic, a lot of people are working from home, and I guess people think it’s a good time to have a dog,” Shaffer said. magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Paw Print Genetics now offers more than 200 tests for more than 350 dog breeds. Genetic Veterinary Sciences has experienced significant growth since its launch, serving breeders, veterinarians and pet owners worldwide. The company provides diagnostic health testing for dogs, cats and birds through four brands: Paw Print Genetics, Canine HealthCheck, CatScan and AvianDx. Shaffer co-founded Genetic Veterinary Sciences, which does business as Paw Print Genetics, in 2012 with her husband, Jeff. She is the former co-founder, CEO and president of Signature Genomic Laboratories, which conducted genetic testing for children with developmental disabilities. Shaffer, a board certified geneticist, has more than 20 years of experience working in the field of human genetics and developing technologies to improve diagnostic testing. As founder and CEO of Genetic Veterinary Sciences Inc., Lisa Shaffer is advancing the health of canines, felines and birds through genetic DNA testing.
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