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A technology entrepreneur in Australia has helped develop a personalised cancer vaccine for his dog using artificial intelligence, an experiment that researchers say could point toward new approaches for treating cancer in people.
Paul Conyngham, a Sydney-based tech engineer, adopted Rosie, a Staffordshire bull terrier–Shar Pei mix, in 2019. Several years later, in 2024, the eight-year-old dog was diagnosed with mast cell cancer after large growths appeared on her hind leg.
Mast cell tumours are the most frequently diagnosed form of skin cancer in dogs and typically show up as lumps or masses beneath the skin.
Conyngham initially pursued conventional treatment, spending thousands of dollars on chemotherapy. Although the therapy slowed the spread of the cancer, it failed to significantly reduce the tumours.
Looking for alternatives, he began exploring possible solutions with the help of ChatGPT. Using AI-assisted guidance, he worked through a process that involved analysing the genetic makeup of Rosie’s tumour.
The tumour tissue was sequenced and converted into digital genetic data. By examining the mutations in the DNA, Conyngham was able to design a personalised treatment concept: an mRNA vaccine tailored specifically to Rosie’s cancer.
To turn the concept into a real therapy, he collaborated with chemist Páll Thordarson, director of the RNA Institute at the University of New South Wales. Using the genetic sequence developed by Conyngham, Thordarson and his team produced what they describe as the first custom mRNA vaccine created specifically for a dog’s cancer.
Despite concerns that the process might take too long to help Rosie, the vaccine was manufactured quickly. According to Thordarson, less than two months passed between receiving the genetic design and delivering the vaccine to Rosie’s veterinarian.
Early results were encouraging. Conyngham said noticeable improvements appeared within about a month, and the tumour has since shrunk by roughly 75 percent.
Before the treatment, Rosie had begun losing mobility late in 2024. But within weeks of the vaccine, Conyngham said her energy returned — including a moment when she jumped a fence while chasing a rabbit.
He believes the therapy has extended both the dog’s life and her quality of life.
Researchers involved in the project say the experiment highlights the broader potential of personalised mRNA therapies. Pharmaceutical companies such as Moderna are already developing similar vaccines for human cancer patients.
Thordarson said the work also demonstrates that advanced RNA-based treatments could be developed locally rather than relying entirely on large international biotech firms. In addition to cancer, he noted that the same approach could eventually be adapted for other conditions, including neurological diseases.
The research is still ongoing. Conyngham and the team are currently sequencing another tumour from Rosie that did not respond to the vaccine to understand why it resisted treatment.
For Conyngham, the effort has been driven by his close bond with the dog.
Rosie, he said, had been by his side during difficult moments in his life, including personal challenges and business pressures. When she became ill, he felt compelled to try everything possible to help her.
With information from Daily Mail.
