Dr. Elias Westermarck (far left), Dr. David A. Williams (center)

On March 25, 2024, the veterinary world lost one of their best, Dr. Elias Westermarck.

Although Dr. Westermarck’s research work included many topics, his extensive investigations related to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) specifically have greatly benefited many owners of affected dogs (and cats). He provided numerous insights into how we can better approach management of our pets with EPI. Some examples of his contributions to EPI are as follows:

Westermarck’s 2010 publication, “Heritability of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in German Shepherd Dogs E. Westermarck, S.A.M. Saari, and M.E. Wiberg… radically changed the way we look at the genetics of EPI. He paired two positive EPI dogs and followed their offspring for 12 years. The paper proved that EPI could not be transmitted in a simple autosomal recessive fashion as previously thought. His findings prompted more, much needed, on-going research into why EPI occurs.
Together with his graduate student co-workers he showed that there are autoimmune components to the pathophysiology of canine pancreatic acinar atrophy.
He evaluated critically the use of the antibiotic tylosin to help manage the SID/SIBO/Dysbiosis (enteropathy) that accompanies EPI, and which persists after treatment with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. His studies with this antibiotic provided valuable insights into managing intestinal dysbiosis, now widely recognized as being important for optimal gut health.
Together with his extensive studies on the pros and cons of different diets on managing patients with EPI, Dr. Westermarck’s collective works have been major game changers for thousands of EPI care-givers and their pets.

The EPI community will be forever be indebted to Dr. Westermarck for his dedication to studies on canine EPI, and we at Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc. mourn the passing of a great veterinary clinical researcher whose work made a huge difference.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Thank you Dr. Westermarck, Emeritus Professor of the University of Helsinki in Finland, for sharing your EPI research journey with us… allowing us a glimpse into 4 decades of EPI veterinary research and the challenges you faced years ago pursuing this research. We, the EPI community will forever be indebted to you for your innovative perseverance and the resulting discoveries. Much of our current understanding and the effectiveness of treatments that we use today to manage our EPI dogs is a product of your dedication to creating new knowledge. We are very grateful for all the hard work done by you and the team of co-workers that you lead. Thank you from EPI dogs (and cats) everywhere! http://researchopenworld.com/challenges-and-successes-in-research-work/

Publications by Dr. Elias Westermark: https://tuhat.helsinki.fi/portal/en/persons/elias-westermarck(31a534d2-bfaa-48e3-8025-4091db398f88).html