Douglas Thamm, VMD, DACVIM Receives Asa Mays, DVM Award for Excellence in Canine Health Research

The AKC Canine Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization celebrating 20 years of preventing, treating, and curing diseases in all dogs, is proud to announce that Douglas Thamm, VMD, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Oncology at the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center is the recipient of the Asa Mays, DVM Award for Excellence in Canine Health Research.

Dr. Mary Smith, Chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee, presented the award to Dr. Thamm this past weekend at the 2015 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

“In addition to being a leading researcher, Dr. Thamm is also a great partner to the AKC Canine Health Foundation. He frequently contributes to our podcasts, educational materials, and volunteers his time and expertise to our peer review process,” Dr. Smith said.

The Foundation has awarded Dr. Thamm nearly $240,000 for his work involving novel targeted therapies for animal and human cancer and ways to integrate these therapies with existing treatments. 

The Asa Mays, DVM Award for Excellence in Canine Health Research is presented to investigators who demonstrate meritorious advancements identifying, characterizing, and treating canine diseases and ailments. It is named for Dr. Asa Mays, a founding board member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation. 

Dr. Thamm has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in veterinary and basic cancer research, and is Co-Editor-In-Chief of the journal Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. His clinical and research interests include novel targeted therapies for animal and human cancer and ways to integrate these therapies with existing treatment.

He is a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Section of the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at Colorado State University (CSU). He received his Bachelors and VMD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, completing an Oncology Residency at the University of Wisconsin where he became a researcher for five additional years before joining the faculty at CSU in 2004. 

Sponsored by the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, the AKC Canine Health Foundation 2015 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference is a biennial event drawing veterinarians, researchers, dog club members, dog owners, and breeders eager to hear from featured speakers on the latest medical and scientific advances in preventing treating, and curing canine health issues.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation bridges the gap between veterinary research and dog lovers by raising funds to support over $1 million per year in new canine health research grants regardless of breed. This research has led to numerous breakthroughs in disease prevention and treatment in the areas of behavior, epilepsy, cancer, cardiology, musculoskeletal injuries and disease, and bloat, among others. Currently, over 100 active research projects are being supported by funds raised by the Foundation from corporate donors, dog clubs, and dog lovers throughout the U.S.