Research Archives - Flint Animal Cancer Center

Category: Research

Research

Comparative Oncology Research: Accelerating Discovery for Pets and People

Lauren Mingus | May 5, 2022

May is National Cancer Research Month, launched in 2007 by the American Association for Cancer Research to highlight the importance of lifesaving cancer research. For more than 40 years, the Flint Animal Cancer Center has been at the forefront of comparative oncology research and discovery to benefit pets and people with cancer. In line with […]

Research

Biorepository Powerful Tool For Cancer Research

Lauren Mingus | December 13, 2018

Fifteen years ago, the Flint Animal Cancer Center started on the path to create one of the first on-site biorepositories in veterinary medicine. The project was spearheaded by medical oncologist, Dr. Sue Lana. Proper collection, processing, and storage were critical considerations when designing the program. “Our focus from day one has been on collection and […]

Research

New Feline Cancer Core Seeks To Better Understand Gastrointestinal (GI) Lymphoma In Cats

Lauren Mingus | March 14, 2019

Is it cancer or is it IBD? It’s a question that has puzzled veterinarians for years. In cats, both Gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) present with chronic diarrhea and vomiting. While IBD is the most common reason for these symptoms, veterinarians do not have an effective method to confirm IBD or rule […]

One Cure Clinical Trials

Canine Cancer Prevention Vaccine Study Seeks Participants

Lauren Mingus | June 18, 2019

As part of the largest interventional canine clinical trial ever conducted, veterinarians leading the Vaccine Against Canine Cancer Study seek to enroll 800 healthy, middle-aged pet dogs to evaluate the effectiveness of a new cancer prevention vaccine. The clinical trials portion of the study is led by Colorado State University’s Dr. Douglas Thamm, director of […]

Exploring the role of companion animals as sentinels for environmental exposures in people

Lauren Mingus | November 3, 2021

Without a doubt, our companion animals provide valuable information in our quest for understanding cancer. In alignment with that work, an emerging area of study is examining the role of environmental exposures in the health of companion animals. And because our pets drink the same water, breathe the same air, and are exposed to similar […]

The answers to cancer start at the cellular level.

Lauren Mingus | May 3, 2021

“Cancer is really a process associated with basic biology,” said Dr. Daniel Gustafson, director of basic research and the Pharmacology Lab at the Flint Animal Cancer Center. “It’s about the cells in your body that for some reason have changed and grown out of control.” The solutions to most problems start by looking at the […]

FACC Patient Stories

Canine Brain Tumor Vaccine Helps Happy Boxer Beat the Odds

Lauren Mingus | October 11, 2021

“If she’s deaf, I’m keeping her.” Those were Michelle Beston’s words to her husband as they waited for their latest foster assignment from a local boxer rescue. Beston had adopted and fostered dogs throughout her life and always hoped to bring a deaf dog into her home. When Fiona arrived, the three-month-old pup with one […]

One Cure Clinical Trials

Veterinarians discover new insights into GI lymphoma in cats

Lauren Mingus | June 30, 2021

Two years after their program began, Dr. Craig Webb, professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and the team from the Feline Cancer Core are excited about their growing understanding of gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma in cats. “We’re approaching our 100th study entrant, which is actually pretty amazing,” said […]

Research

Cancer research to benefit pets and people

Lauren Mingus | June 2, 2021

For nearly four decades, the Flint Animal Cancer Center has been at the forefront of understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cancer biology, disease diagnosis, and the development of effective therapies. Our focus is on comparative oncology to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in pet animals, and translate our research and knowledge also to […]

FACC scientists search for solutions to cancer treatment challenges

Lauren Mingus | May 25, 2021

While many scientists at the Flint Animal Cancer Center focus their research on cancer cells, the Laboratory of Comparative Musculoskeletal Oncology and Traumatology views cancer through an additional lens. “Many of our colleagues are doing great work focusing on cancer itself – how to treat it effectively, how to make sure it doesn’t spread,” said […]

Our Team

Veterinary Oncology Training Programs

Lauren Mingus | February 19, 2021

Educating future cancer specialists is central to the mission of the Flint Animal Cancer Center. We have trained more surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists than any other veterinary institution in the world. We also established the first Ph.D. program in cancer biology for veterinarians. Until the day we conquer cancer, the need for additional clinical […]

One Cure Clinical Trials

Novel clinical trial seeks solution for tumor hypoxia

Lauren Mingus | November 30, 2020

It’s common knowledge among cancer researchers that tumors lacking oxygen (hypoxic) don’t respond well to radiation. Flint Animal Cancer Center radiation oncology section head, Dr. Susan LaRue, is working with colleagues at four universities to test a new approach that adds oxygen to tumors with the help of microbubbles. “Solid tumors, whether in pets or […]