Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

Hemangiosarcoma Research

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds research to better understand hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer, with a focus on developing advanced diagnostics and more effective treatments.

Why We Focus on Hemangiosarcoma

Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive and common cancer in dogs. It can develop in any tissue or organ, but most commonly affects the spleen, heart, and skin. Hemangiosarcoma is often referred to as the “silent killer” because tumors can remain undetected until they are in advanced stages, and even large tumors may not show visible signs in dogs. Unfortunately, current treatments have not significantly improved survival rates for dogs with this disease. By studying the biology, progression, and potential treatments for hemangiosarcoma, we aim to develop new diagnostic tools and therapies to help save the lives of affected dogs and improve their outcomes.

Research Grants

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Logo
2024 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $67,731
03286: Single Nucleus RNA Sequencing of Canine Hemangiosarcoma – A Comparative Study of Splenic, Extra-Splenic, and Metastatic Tumor Profiling for Targeted Therapeutic Development
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Alexandre B Le Roux, DVM, MS, DECVDI, DACVR and Ronan Chaligné, PhD
2024 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $73,257
03187: Investigating Volatile Organic Compounds as Potential Markers of Canine Hemangiosarcoma by Trained Bio-detection Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD
University of Florida Logo
2022 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $150,000
02759-T: Reprogramming the Tumor Immune Niche in Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzer
Researcher(s): Jong Hyuk Kim, DVM, PhD
University of Florida Logo
2022 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $156,065
03011: A GD3 Nano-scaled Liposomal Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial for Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Rowan Milner, BVSc
University of Illinois Logo
2022 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $170,087
03003: Suppression of Extracellular Glutamate Efflux & mGluR1 Signaling to Impede Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cell Growth
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Timothy Fan, DVM, PhD
Ethos Discovery Logo
2021 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $348,559
02946: Towards Curative Outcomes in Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Chand Khanna, DVM, PhD
Cornell University Logo
2021 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $102,549
02942: Genome-wide Molecular Interrogation of Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Scott Coonrod, PhD
Oregon State University Logo
2021 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $11,718
02864-A: Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Activation in Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Michelle Kutzler, DVM, PhD
University of Minnesota Logo
2020 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $269,238
02806-MOU: Strategic Prevention of Canine Hemangiosarcoma: Lifetime Follow-Up
Breed(s): Boxer, Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog
Researcher(s): Jaime F Modiano, VMD PhD
University of Minnesota Logo
2020 Transferred
Hemangiosarcoma $121,852.67
02759: Reprogramming the Tumor Immune Niche in Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Jong Hyuk (Jon) Kim, DVM, PhD
University of Georgia Logo
2020 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $15,000
02746-A: Evaluation of Serum miRNA as a Diagnostic Tool for Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Janet Grimes, DVM, MS
University of Minnesota Logo
2019 Active Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $334,306
02534: Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Propranolol and Doxorubicin in the Treatment of Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Erin B. Dickerson, PhD and Antonella Borgatti, DVM, MS
Tufts University School of Medicine Logo
2018 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $168,857
02510-T: Identification of Novel Synthetic Lethal Partners to Optimize PI3K Targeted Therapies in Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Cheryl A. London, DVM, PhD
2018 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma, Tick-Borne Disease $219,026
02519: Prevalence of Bartonella spp. Infection in Dogs with Cardiac and Splenic Hemangiosarcomas within and between Geographic Locations
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Edward B Breitschwerdt, DVM
University of Minnesota Logo
2016 Closed Grant
Hemangiosarcoma $432,000
02234-MOU: A Novel Approach for Prevention of Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Breed(s): Boxer, Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog
Researcher(s): Jaime F Modiano, VMD, PhD

Join Us in Advancing
Canine Health

With over $3.8 million invested in hemangiosarcoma research, your support helps us fund critical studies that aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease.