Uniting Pet & Human Research for a Cure®

Cancer affects millions of pets and people every year. At Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF), we are committed to closing the funding gap in comparative oncology research—because advancing cancer treatment for pets can also unlock lifesaving breakthroughs for humans.

Critical Research Needs in Veterinary Science

The National Research Council (US) Committee on the National Needs for Research in Veterinary Science has outlined several critical research priorities, including:

• Preventive Medicine & Wellness Strategies – Developing vaccination protocols, controlling infectious diseases, optimizing nutrition, enhancing disease monitoring, and improving behavioral health diagnostics.
• Geriatric & Immune Disorders – Advancing research into cancer, organ failure, arthritis, and immune-mediated diseases—a key focus of ACF.
• Rapid & Minimally Invasive Diagnostics – Improving early detection methods to enhance treatment outcomes—another ACF priority.
• Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials – Designing rigorous trials that provide clinically significant insights—an area of strong ACF support.
• Reproductive & Orthopedic Health in Performance Animals – Addressing efficiency and injury prevention strategies.
• Microbial Ecology & Zoonotic Disease Transmission – Studying how diseases spread between companion animals and humans.

The Importance of Comparative Oncology Research

Neglecting companion-animal health research has far-reaching consequences, including:

• Increased morbidity and mortality in pets.
• Psychological distress for pet owners and families.
• Delayed advancements in pharmaceutical and biologic treatments for both pets and people.

Investing in comparative oncology not only extends the lives of companion animals but also accelerates discoveries that benefit human cancer treatment. By studying naturally occurring cancers in pets, scientists gain powerful comparative disease insights, paving the way for more effective therapies across species.

At Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF), we are leading the charge in comparative oncology, funding cutting-edge research—including the Canine Cancer Genome Project (CCGP)—to ensure a future where cancer is no longer a death sentence for pets or people.