The DOGBONe Group at OVC Receives $750,000 Grant to Advance Osteosarcoma Research

Drs. Alicia Viloria-Petit and Geoffrey Wood, co-leaders of the Dog Osteosarcoma Group-Biomarkers of Neoplasia (DOGBONe) at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) were recently awarded $750,000 by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) to pursue research in “Circulating multi-molecule signatures for early detection of osteosarcoma recurrence.” 

The DOGBONe group is a multidisciplinary team formed by 10 OVC researchers and Dr. Huiyan Li, from the Department of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and is involved in canine and human comparative osteosarcoma research. By pooling samples, researchers examine data from shared cases across various platforms, leveraging individual interests and expertise for comprehensive analysis.

Canine osteosarcoma is a painful and aggressive bone cancer that commonly occurs in older large breed dogs and spreads rapidly. In humans, osteosarcoma is not as common, but shares many similarities with the canine disease equivalent.  

The DOGBONe group has a critical role in advancing translational research since canine osteosarcoma research has the potential to provide insights into the development, progression and therapy resistance of osteosarcoma in humans. The grant is a significant boost to the group's efforts, and the funding will help them to make important contributions toward the early detection of osteosarcoma recurrence, which will improve patient outcomes. 

The OICR review panel expressed high regard for the research plans, leadership, and talented team that has been assembled. The successful execution of this research project is expected to provide important contributions towards OICR's translational research mandate.

Pictured: Some of the researchers involved in the DOGBONe research group. From left to right: Dr. Michelle Oblak, Dr. Brigitte Brisson, Dr. Anthony Mutsaers, Dr. Geoffrey Wood, Dr. Alicia Viloria-Petit.