DENVER/April 16, 2025 — Morris Animal Foundation has announced funding for four groundbreaking research grants aimed at advancing the care and treatment of osteosarcoma, the most common and aggressive form of bone cancer in dogs.
“The treatment of osteosarcoma hasn’t changed significantly in almost 30 years,” said Dr. Kelly Diehl, Senior Director of Science Communication at Morris Animal Foundation. “This latest group of proposals explores innovative strategies to combat this challenging and often deadly cancer.”
Each of the newly funded studies tackles a unique angle in the fight against canine bone cancer, from novel drug combinations to genetic profiling. The recipients and their research topics include:
Dr. Cheryl London – Tufts University and Dr. Steven Dow – Colorado State University: Investigating the efficacy of a new combination therapy to enhance treatment outcomes.
Dr. Matthew Berry – University of Illinois: Studying a targeted radiation therapy paired with a new vaccine therapy to boost immune response against tumors.
Dr. Behzad Toosi – University of Saskatchewan: Testing a library of over 1,800 drug compounds in combination with standard chemotherapy on osteosarcoma cell lines.
Dr. Courtney Schott – University of Guelph, Canada: Exploring how the expression of the MYC gene influences osteosarcoma progression and treatment responsiveness.
These pioneering projects are scheduled to begin in summer or early fall 2025. This work is expected to contribute significantly to the field of veterinary oncology and the development of more effective treatments for dogs with cancer.
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding nearly $170 million in more than 3,100 critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Washington
