Canine cancer model to detect early treatment failure and guide therapy in pediatric bone cancer
Official title: Validation of a canine cancer model of early genetic detection of treatment failure and directed systemic intervention to improve outcomes in cancer patients
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11448284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A dog model of osteosarcoma is being used to spot relapse early and test treatment changes so children with bone cancer may get better, faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $692,980 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA302716-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pediatric osteosarcoma patients and pet dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma paired with translational aims to improve pediatric care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show the identified predictive patterns or who are not eligible for biomarker-guided therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses spontaneous osteosarcoma in pet dogs as a stand-in for pediatric disease to identify biomarkers and predictive classifiers that signal relapse earlier than current methods. Researchers will collect serial tissue and blood samples from dogs and test how different treatment combinations influence outcomes, aiming to translate findings to improve decisions for kids with this cancer. By comparing clinical features, DNA mutations, and gene expression, the study seeks to validate predictors that could guide personalized therapy. The work can pave the way for more timely interventions and better survival in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could enable earlier detection of relapse and more effective, targeted treatment choices for children with osteosarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has indicated that similar canine-human comparisons can reveal conserved predictors, supporting this translational approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gardner, Heather Lynn — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Gardner, Heather Lynn
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.