2020

Too many of us continue to lose our loved ones—people and pets—to cancer. We also suffer the long-term consequences of current treatment options or face a diagnosis of a rare cancer that does not have effective treatment options.

Animal Cancer Foundation seeks to change this by closing the gap in funding for comparative oncology research, uniting pet & human research for a cure®

Representing New Hope for People and Pets with Cancer

Canine cancer tumor genome mapping is a critical step in cancer research.

The Canine Cancer Genome Project (CCGP) modeled after The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and sponsored by a generous inaugural gift from Blue Buffalo Foundation will map the tumor genomes of the seven most common canine cancers and  place the datasets in the public domain for use by all veterinary and human cancer researchers, enhancing the ability to compare cancer genomics in both pets and people to find cures for all.  Personalized medicine through targeted cancer therapy holds great promise for those suffering with the disease.

Animal Cancer Foundation is proud to have been able to create an umbrella for this collaborative research project, bringing together exemplary researchers across institutions familiar with TCGA, genetics, veterinary oncology, human oncology, bioinformatics and drug development to conduct the project.  We are grateful to the Canine Comparative Oncology Genomics Consortium (CCOGC) for providing the canine biospecimen samples needed to successfully complete this imperative project.  When TCGA was undertaken costs to analyze one sample were very high.

Today, thanks to new technologies costs are significantly lower and achievable.  Phases I and II of this groundbreaking work have been funded, work is commencing, and Phase III fundraising is now open to bring the project to fulfillment in the 36 months.

ACF Funded COVID-19 Research Shows Early Promise

Since 2017, Animal Cancer Foundation has been a grant sponsor of Joshua Schiffman, MD, PEELTX’s lead researcher, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah, Adjunct Professor of Oncological Sciences, and Medical Director for the High Risk Cancer Clinic at the University of Utah.Dr. Schiffman’s groundbreaking work on the critical tumor suppressor gene TP53 in elephants (elephant p53, EP53) and the potential of EP53 to protect elephants from developing, and ACF’s grant award allowed the team to extend to testing EP53 protein loaded nanoparticles for their ability to kill canine osteosarcoma and histiocytic sarcoma. A foundation for exploring translational treatment for dogs and ultimately children and teens primarily effected by osteosarcoma.

So when Dr. Schiffman called on ACF early during the COVID-19 epidemic to fund a project for a naturally-occuring therapeutic, the board enthusiastically responded.  Dr. Schiffman in a collaboration among scientists at PEEL Therapeutics, University of Utah Health, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Weill Cornell Medical Center conducted a clinical study published June 29, 2020 in Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology, that sheds light on the mysterious blood clots and inflammation seen in patients with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and offers early promise for development of new medicine that may block COVID-19 inflammation and has application to the inflammation seen in other diseases, including especially, cancer in pets and people.

B: “You will see here that this is a planning committee for the December 2021 workshop and that Animal Cancer Foundation is a sponsor – granted in 2020 to this event. These meetings bring together leading experts in an area for presentation and discussion that forms the basis for white papers and influences research directions going forward. This sponsorship builds on Animal Cancer Foundation’s previous sponsor of a 2015 NAS-IOM workshop that emphasized the need for more robust genomic sequencing of canine normal and canine cancer genomes in a white paper. Animal Cancer Foundation representatives attend these workshops as sponsors.”

“A 1.5-day public workshop that will examine the potential role of companion animals as sentinels of relevant, shared environmental exposures that may affect human aging and cancer.”

Nationwide Pet Cancer Awareness Walk

Animal Cancer Foundation partnered with Nationwide® pet insurance to host the inaugural Nationwide® Pet Cancer Awareness Walk throughout November-December, and raised nearly $90,000 in support of ACF’s mission!

More than 6,100 people from 49 states, Washington DC and US Virgin Islands participated in the virtual event, walking 578,700 miles. A total of $2,850 was also awarded to 12 local shelters/rescue organizations thanks to sponsor FidoCure®.

Long Island Veterinary Medical Association (LIVMA) presents award to Animal Cancer Foundation “for your ongoing work uniting pet and human research for a cure.”

— February 27, 2020

New Member: Loni

Animal Cancer Foundation welcomed Loni Edwards, Esq., CEO & Founder, The Dog Agency and PetCon, to the Board of Directors.

Loni brings to the Board a love of dogs, and considerable legal and business knowledge. She graduated from Harvard Law School, but was inspired by the social-media popularity of her French Bulldog, Chloe, to create The Dog Agency in 2015 as the first talent management agency to focus on pet influencers.

The Dog Agency also produces the annual PetCon for pet lovers from around the world. The 2020 event raised $25,000 for ACF.

Dedications

Postponements

Due to COVID19, Animal Cancer Foundation’s sponsorship of the pre-conference keynote speaker at the Veterinary Cancer Society Conference 2020 was deferred to the 2021 meeting taking place October 2021 in Boise, Idaho, where The Alda Center for Communicating Science will be the keynote and breakout session for researchers.

Researchers estimate that a robust large scale research study in canines that would be usable to establish a basis for a new cancer therapeutic under consideration by the Food & Drug Administration costs at least

Because a “gold” standard of treatment may not exist for a companion animal, they may be enrolled in a clinical trial without first exhausting all other treatment options.

CCGP is a grant of over $1.2M to allow for a more robust understanding of the canine cancer genome and the canine normal as well. (phase I and II)

PEELTX is a novel treatment therapy for which ACF’s gift of $60K allowed the development of data to obtain additional funding to help treat inflammation caused by COVID19 and diseases like cancer with a natural therapeutic being developed.