MEDIA CONTACT:
Sharon M. Albright, DVM, CCRT
Manager of Communications & Veterinary Outreach
AKC Canine Health Foundation
Phone: 919-334-4019
E-mail: sharon.albright@akcchf.org

News Release

For Immediate Release

RALEIGH, NC (May 3, 2021) – The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the health of all dogs, marks Pet Cancer Awareness Month this May with over $850,000 invested in eleven newly awarded canine cancer research grants.

Cancer remains a top health concern for dog owners and veterinary professionals and typically occupies at least one quarter of CHF’s active research funding. This includes studies funded through CHF’s Hemangiosarcoma Research Initiative which focuses fundraising and research efforts on this devastating cancer of the cells that line canine blood vessels. CHF-funded oncology research allows scientists to study cancer at the molecular level, providing knowledge that helps veterinarians diagnose cancer earlier and provide more effective treatments. Since dogs and humans experience many of the same cancers, numerous CHF-funded oncology studies have a One Health impact and will benefit both dogs and humans.

Recently awarded oncology grants are studying the link between cancer and environmental toxin exposure, mechanisms of drug resistance, and more, including:

• • Grant 02879: Use of CRISPR-based Genome-wide Approach for Identification of Vulnerabilities in Canine Oral Melanoma
    Principal Investigator: Maciej Parys, DVM, PhD; R(D)SVS and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
    The first CHF-funded study using CRISPR technology, this study seeks to identify the genes specific for melanoma development and evaluate drugs targeting them.

• • Grant 02910: Open-Label, Phase-2 Clinical Trial of Chlorambucil and Toceranib for Canine Mast Cell Tumors
    Principal Investigator: Kristen Weishaar, DVM, MS; Colorado State University
    A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy for mast cell tumors, the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs.

• • Grant 02920: Continued Investigation into Tumor-permissive Collagen Signatures in Canine Mammary Gland Tumors: Development of Prognostic Markers and Targeted Therapies for Improved Outcomes
    Principal Investigator: Susan W. Volk, VMD, PhD; University of Pennsylvania
    A continuation study on specific cancer-associated collagen networks and how they can be used to predict clinical outcomes, prevent cancer development, and inhibit residual tumor growth and metastasis following surgery.

“CHF’s recently awarded oncology grants utilize the latest technologies and knowledge of cancer biology to identify new and more effective ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat canine cancer,” states CHF Scientific Review Committee Chair, Stephanie Montgomery, DVM, PhD, DACVP. “We are excited for the outcomes of this research which will advance our understanding of cancer biology and improve cancer therapies for all dogs.”

Since 1995, CHF and its donors have invested more than $15.4 million in 240 canine cancer studies. This ongoing effort will help current and future generations of dogs, and their owners, thrive in the face of cancer. Learn more about CHF-funded oncology research at akcchf.org/caninecancer.