Osteosarcoma in dogs: understanding natural disease and immune environment to guide human treatments
Official title: Clinical, molecular, and immune characterization of naturally occurring osteosarcoma in dogs
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11392498 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in pet dogs with naturally occurring bone cancer will map how the disease progresses and how the immune system interacts with tumors to inform future human trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $586,599 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA281905-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392498 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma that are being treated surgically and whose owners consent to study participation.
✕Less likely to help
Dogs whose owners do not consent or whose disease course does not fit study criteria may not contribute to the translational insights.
What this research studies
This project enrolls client-owned dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma to observe natural disease progression after standard surgery. Researchers will deeply profile the tumor environment and immune landscape to identify factors that influence outcomes. The goal is to refine how canine trials are designed so they better predict human responses, bridging mouse data and human clinical studies. Results could help tailor therapies and improve translational strategies for bone cancer in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve the design of future human trials and accelerate effective treatments for osteosarcoma by aligning canine data with human biology.
How similar studies have gone: Previous canine cancer studies have shown potential for translational value, but this project seeks broader, deeper immune and microenvironment profiling.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rebhun, Robert B — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Rebhun, Robert B
Related research
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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.