Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation continues to expand

Vicky Sabine was recently appointed to the position of Clinical Research Coordinator at the Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer, Ontario Veterinary College. Funded entirely by The Smiling Blue Skies® Cancer Fund, Vicky will work alongside Kaya Skowronski whose primary responsibility is for the coordination of the Companion Animal Tumour Sample Bank. Now having two full-time personnel, the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation (ICCI) is able to improve its current resources and offer new opportunities in advancing translational cancer research in companion animals at OVC.

Dr. Brenda Coomber, ICCI co-director, says, “I am delighted to see the increased challenges and opportunities associated with the growth of ICCI oncology research activities, and that we have two such dedicated and skilled individuals for this task.  Together, Kaya and Vicky are a formidable team, committed to ensuring we advance our understanding of cancer for both pets and people.”

Sabine gained her PhD in Veterinary Medicine (Developing a gene therapy cure for canine osteosarcoma; Supervisor: Dr. David J. Argyle) at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) and spent more than 7 years as a breast cancer translational research scientist, at both the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and more recently, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (Toronto). She firmly believes that companion animal oncology patients are ideal candidates as models for cancer and have a key role to play in improving not only the lives of fellow pets but also those of humans.

Sabine is available to assist in administrative aspects of companion animal OVC Health Sciences Centre-based clinical research projects with priority being given to Oncology-related and Pet-Trust funded projects (including MSc, PhD & DVSc). She can help with guiding investigators through appropriate paperwork, recruiting patients, obtaining consent, liaising with referring clinics, publicity and facilitating sample collection.

There are 17 clinical trials currently recruiting patients: 9 oncology (8 canine, 1 feline); 6 internal medicine (3 canine, 3 feline); and 2 nutrition (1 both canine & feline, 1 feline):

1.  Analysis of cytokines in dogs with multicentric lymphoma treated with Madison-Wisconsin protocol (PI: Paul Woods);
2. MicroRNA profiling for diagnosis and prognosis in canine multicentric lymphoma (co-PI’s: Darren Wood & Geoff Wood);
3. Prognostication of canine T-cell lymphoma (PI: Dorothee Bienzle);
4. Acute myeloid leukemia in dogs (PI: Dorothee Bienzle);
5. Effects of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in dogs with mast cell tumours undergoing surgery at OVC (including complex cases; PI: Alex Valverde);
6. Investigating biomarkers for metronomic cyclophosphamide treatment of canine soft tissue sarcoma using functional imaging, tissue and blood analysis (PI: Tony Mutsaers);
7. Analysis of cytokines in dogs with osteosarcoma treated with amputation, radiation and/or chemotherapy (PI: Tony Mutsaers);
8. Oncolytic virus in canine osteosarcoma (PI: Paul Woods);
9. Oncolytic viral vaccine therapy of feline mammary carcinoma (PI: Paul Woods);
10. The effects of pre-storage leukoreduction on inflammation induced by blood transfusion in critically ill dogs (PI: Shauna Blois);
11. Calibrated automated thrombogram in healthy dogs and dogs with immune mediated hemolytic anemia (PI: Shauna Blois);
12. Cardiac hormone (NT-proBNP) and strain imaging in Dobermans with preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (PI: Lynne O’Sullivan);
13. Feline acute kidney injury (PI: Dorothee Bienzle);
14. Antinuclear antibody testing in feline anemia (PI: Tony Ogg);
15. Effect of creatinine on feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PI: Tony Ogg);
16. Thiamine deficiency and response to subcutaneous repletion in critically ill dogs and cats (PI: Adronie Verbrugghe);
17. The impact of a weight loss plan on the fecal microbiome in obese cats (PI: Adronie Verbrugghe).
18. Comparison of fentanyl and hydromorphone infusions in dogs and cats (PI: Shane Bateman).
    

In addition, there are also 2 online research surveys by the Clinical Nutrition team currently requesting participation:

1. Veterinary assessment of body composition– to be completed by veterinarians and veterinary technicians;
2. Canine food allergies– to be completed by pet owners.

For all clinical trials, informed consent is obtained from the pet’s owner. The clinical care of a pet is not compromised if clients opt to not participate in a study.

Looking for more information on these trials or assistance with your new study?
Please contact Vicky Sabine, Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: vsabine@uoguelph.ca; phone: 226-218-0338; Website: http://ovc.uoguelph.ca/icci/trials

ICCI Facilities update
In addition to the ‘Tumor Bank’ room (1108F), and as part of ICCI’s commitment to expand clinical trial activities and translational research materials, ICCI is pleased to now have both a dedicated office space and cell culture area in Clinical Studies, rooms 2109 and 2160, respectively. Having a more secure office, enables OVC HSC  to start complying with GLP/GCP guidelines, a pre-requisite for Pharmaceutical collaboration, storage for essential paperwork and confidential records, ability to hold quick unscheduled meetings and to provide a more welcoming and collaborative environment for visiting researchers. In addition, 2109 also has the capacity to evolve into a communal laboratory for clinical oncology research. 

ICCI Team (left to right): Dr. Paul Woods (ICCI co-director), Dr. Kaya Skowronski (Tumour Bank Coordinator); Dr. Vicky Sabine (Clinical Research Coordinator), Dr. Michelle Oblak (assistant ICCI co-director), Dr. Geoff Wood (assistant ICCI co-director) and Dr. Brenda Coomber (ICCI co-director).