Norwalk, CT, October 25, 2010
Grant Made in Honor of WPLJ’s Scott Shannon and His Wife Trish to Recognize Their Commitment to Comparative Oncology Research
As part of its mission to develop and support research that advances the prevention and treatment of cancer for people and pets, the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) is making a $20,000 grant to the Van Andel Research Institute. With a common hope of improving the health and welfare of humans afflicted with rare tumors, and canines affected with the same respective cancer, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have rallied an unprecedented national alliance of veterinarians, basic scientists, and clinicians to form the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium (CHCC). The CHCC will integrate genomic studies of dogs with phenotypic and pharmacologic tests to predict therapies for human disease.
In the next two years, the research will focus efforts on unraveling the genetic causes of several cancers, including but not limited to: hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, melanoma, malignant histiocytic sarcoma, and lymphoma. The purpose of the study is to determine how genes impact the development of cancer in dogs. Specifically, researchers will study abnormalities in genes and chromosomes in a variety of cancers to determine if these abnormalities are inherited and to assess their clinical significance (if they are predictive regarding response to treatment and prognosis).
"Although the main goal of this project is to help humans with rare cancers, we realize at the same time that some of the treatments we will develop can help dogs as well. So we have actually united with a coalition of veterinarians across the nation to help transfer some of these new therapies into canine clinics," says Dr. Nick Duesbery, head of VARI's Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology.
"ACF is pleased to be among the early private supporters of this groundbreaking research,"says David C. Levine, M.D., President of the ACF Executive Board, "and grateful to the individual and corporate donors who have generously responded to our initiatives."
The grant is being made by ACF in honor of WPLJ- FM’s morning radio personality Scott Shannon and his wife Trish Shannon to recognize their commitment to comparative oncology research. The grant memorializes the Shannon's beloved Golden Retriever Jimmy, ACF's Animal Ambassador, who thrived for two years after treatment for bone cancer. Jimmy's energy and love of life inspired people and their pets to walk in Veterinary Pet Insurance's K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walks in New York and California. Such events draw attention to the proliferation of pet cancers and the opportunity owners have to make a difference.
Founded by Dr. Gerald Post, a veterinary oncologist, the Animal Cancer Foundation is comprised of medical experts, business professionals, and dedicated volunteers who have all been impacted by the loss of a beloved pet to cancer.
