Dogs have been important to humans as both companions and workers for millennia. Now, they could be vital in the search to find a cure for brain cancer.. Prof. Roel Verhaak at Jackson Laboratories in Maine has found that gliomas in dogs may help scientists better understand the complex pathology of diffuse gliomas, cancers with an extraordinarily low survival rate.

Two of our most vulnerable and precious family members have a more special bond than imagined. Every year, 16,000 children and 6 million pet dogs receive diagnoses of remarkably similar cancers. Resources to find a cure for either have been limited, but with joined forces, that could change.

Veterinary researchers and a nonprofit foundation - the Canines-N-Kids Foundation- explore similarities between cancers in dogs and children that could lead to new treatments — and possibly a cure.

New England's iconic retailer, The Black Dog company has created an adorable, durable Huggle Hound toy to benefit Canines-N-Kids Foundation's efforts to Crush Cancers kids & pups both develop. A portion of the proceeds of each "Besty" sale benefit CnK. Get yours today only on the Black Dog's website at https://bit.ly/2KydAYR

A field of study known as “comparative oncology” is emerging as a promising means to help cure cancer. Comparative oncology researchers study the similarities between naturally occurring cancers in pets and cancers in people in order to provide clues to treat cancer more effectively, and is particularly hopeful in cancers children and dogs both develop.

Our four-legged furry friends may have even more benefits than being a faithful and loving companion, as CnK's Dr. Cheryl London & team from the Tufts University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, have just uncovered that a rare bone cancer in children—known as osteosarcoma (OS)— is genetically similar in dogs. The researchers are optimistic that the findings could help break the logjam in the treatment of this deadly disease, which hasn’t seen a significant medical breakthrough in nearly three decades.

CNN reports on work of Dr. Stephen Johnston (Arizona State, Center for Innovations in Medicine) and Doug Thamm (CSU Flint Animal Cancer Center) and a clinical trial of an anti-cancer Vaccine being evaluated in about 100 canine cancer patients around the country. If it works, human patients could be next!

Dr. Kristy Richards, MD, PhD, Physician, Oncologist and Researcher in comparative lymphoma lost her own brave battle against cancer on March 30, 2019. Dr. Richards served on CnK's Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and was just recognized in November 2018 by Canines- N-Kids Foundation as the first woman recipient of the Trailblazer Award for her groundbreaking interdisciplinary work treating cancer in dogs with a goal to develop therapies for humans with lymphoma. . A brilliant researcher, Dr. Richards' energy, passion and collaborative-mindedness is an inspiration that will continue to drive our work to Crush Cancer @ Both Ends of the Leash.