Canine bladder cancer prevention and the identification of predictive biomarkers for lymphoma are among the focus of new cancer research projects to receive funding from the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation (CHF). In honor of Pet Cancer Awareness Month (May), the foundation is awarding more than $902,000 in grants to 12 projects, each with a focus on canine oncology. The newly funded studies include: “Bladder carcinogen exposures in pet dogs” (principal investigator: Lauren Trepanier, DVM, PhD; University of Wisconsin, Madison), which aims to develop canine bladder cancer prevention strategies by exploring the relationship between the disease and exposure to certain environmental chemicals; “Identifying early-stage ultra-rare mutations as predictive biomarkers of lymphoma in high-risk versus low-risk breeds within the Dog Aging Project” (principal investigator: Daniel Promislow, PhD; University of Washington), which explores instances of lymphoma in different dog breeds and the cause of this variation; “Defining the functional consequences and therapeutic vulnerability of dystrophin alterations in canine osteosarcoma” (principal investigator: Cheryl A. London, DVM, PhD; Tufts University), which explores genetic mutations in dogs with bone cancer; and “Reprogramming the tumor immune niche in canine hemangiosarcoma” (principal investigator: Jong Hyuk Kim, DVM, PhD; University of Minnesota), which aims to develop novel treatment strategies through the study of immune cells and their promotion of tumor growth and inflammation. “Canine cancer is continuously a top concern for dog owners and veterinarians alike,” says Andrea Fiumefreddo, the foundation’s director of programs and operations. “CHF works diligently with our stakeholders to find and fund scientific studies with the most potential to improve our knowledge of canine cancer, providing better diagnostics and new treatment strategies.” Since its founding in 1995, CHF and its donors have invested more than $14 million in canine cancer research, AKC says. For more information, click here.
