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Contributor
Mimi Padmabandu
MA, BS, BA
Mimi Padmabandu is a scientific writer and Senior Content Strategist at Embark Veterinary. Her career includes a decade of experience writing about science and genomics for leading biotechnology companies, including Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific, between 2012 and 2020. Her published work covers technical topics in genomics, such as next-generation sequencing. She has also covered large genomics conferences, including the Plant and Animal Genome Conference and the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting.
She worked with genetic counselors and scientists to create scientific posters at Progenity (now Biora Therapeutics) from 2020 to 2021, where she also wrote about the company’s innovation in preeclampsia testing, gastrointestinal health, and oral biotherapeutics.
At Embark Veterinary, Mimi covers the company's ongoing research. She has written about the technology behind dog DNA testing, genetics, Embark's published discoveries, and more.
Mimi earned a master's degree in Early Modern English Literature from King's College London. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and English from the University of California, Los Angeles.
All work
What is a “Supermutt”?
You might be surprised to receive your dog’s breed results and find that a percentage of their breed ancestry comes from “Supermutt.” But what exactly is Supermutt? We hear this question often at Embark. Here, we’ll explain what “Supermutt” means, how Embark scientists match your dog’s DNA to different breeds, and why a “Supermutt” result...
A Veterinarian Explains What Your Dog’s Mast Cell Tumor Risk Means
As part of our genetic health screening, Embark dog DNA tests can determine if some dogs are at increased risk of developing mast cell tumors (MCTs). This risk is based on genetic breed ancestry and other factors. This model offers a new way to estimate relative risk for MCTs, especially for mixed-breed dogs. We know...
Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs
Knowing how to recognize common signs of mast cell tumors in dogs can help you catch them early. At Embark, we’re committed to improving the life and longevity of all dogs by providing our customers with information about their dogs’ health. With that goal in mind, we now offer a genetic risk estimate that indicates...
Vardis Reunites With His Long-Lost Sister, Brunch
Vardis, a sweet-faced rescue pup, had spent most of his life in shelters and foster homes as he waited for his forever family. Along the way, with the help of an Embark dog DNA test, Vardis reunited with a special someone—his long-lost sister, Brunch. Their heartwarming reunion story appeared in The Dodo, People, and The...
Dog Genetics 101
Genetics is the study of how DNA is passed down from one generation to the next. It is a complicated, always-changing field. Here, we’ll explain the basic concepts in dog genetics and define some genetics terms that you might see in your dog’s Embark results. Key terms in dog genetics explained You may see some...
Dog Toy Safety Tips
Toys are important parts of your dog’s life. They provide enrichment, exercise, an outlet for teething, and—most importantly—fun! But dog toys can also pose potential safety hazards. Keep your dog safe and avoid potential injuries with these dog toy safety tips. General dog toy safety tips Always inspect new toys before giving them to your dog....
Dog First Aid and Preparing for Emergencies
Emergencies can strike at any time. Being prepared with a dog first aid kit and an emergency plan can help you respond to unexpected injuries, accidents, or natural disasters. In some cases, it may even be lifesaving. How to make a dog first aid kit Many of the items commonly found in a family first...
Dietary Indiscretion in Dogs
Sometimes called “garbage gut,” dietary indiscretion is an issue that affects many pets, though it’s most common in dogs. What is dietary indiscretion? Simply put, dietary indiscretion refers to any time your dog eats something they shouldn’t—including garbage, table scraps, or non-food items. It is often accompanied by signs of gastrointestinal (GI) upset, such as...
Preparing Your Dog for Hearing Loss
Congenital deafness is an inherited form of hearing loss in dogs. There are many types of congenital deafness in dogs, affecting at least 100 different breeds. One such form of hearing loss is early-onset adult deafness (EOAD) in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs. (In fact, Embark scientists discovered this variant, in partnership with the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club...
Preparing Your Dog for Vision Loss
There are many causes of vision loss in dogs. As dogs get older, it’s natural for their eyesight to be less sharp than it used to be. Senior dogs are at increased risk of vision loss from various age-related conditions, including macular degeneration, iris atrophy, and geriatric cataracts. The good news is that dogs generally...
Embark Partners with AnimalBiome to Study the Dog Microbiome
In partnership with AnimalBiome, leaders in canine microbiome research, Embark Veterinary now offers tests and supplements designed to support dogs’ digestive and oral health. What is the microbiome? Both humans and animals have a community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that live inside the body. Collectively called the microbiome, these microorganisms play important...
How to Talk to Your Veterinarian About Your Dog’s MDR1 Result
By knowing your dog’s genetic risk for MDR1 drug sensitivity, you and your veterinarian can take steps to make sure that your dog doesn’t have a bad reaction to certain drugs. What is MDR1? Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) is caused by a genetic variant in the ABCB1 gene. Dogs who have this genetic variant are...