Surrey Research Park to host canine chemotherapy trials

By Tom Kilkelly

2 March 2023

Share

The Business Magazine article image for: Surrey Research Park to host canine chemotherapy trials

Guildford-based AURA Veterinary has revealed their plans for clinical trials of two new canine chemotherapy techniques. The trials will take place at Surrey Research Park.

AURA are working with the University of Surrey on one of the projects, named: Development of Oncology Proxy-Reported Outcome Measure (CO-PROM).

The study, which is partially funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, aims to develop similar tools to patient-reporting monitoring systems that were part of research previously conducted by The University of Surrey.

This research indicated that said systems could improve chemotherapy-related symptoms in humans, the aim is for the study with AURA to yield the same results for canine chemotherapy.

Owners of dogs that have been diagnosed with cancer and are receiving chemotherapy from AURA will be asked to complete a daily online questionnaire for a maximum of 21 days. Some will also be invited to participate in an online interview to give feedback on the questionnaire.

A second study, which is being conducted by AURA, the University of Edinburgh, and Leipzig University, is examining whether artificial sweetener aspartame can reduce the risk of dogs developing chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea.

This second study is being conducted in similar fashion to the first in the sense that it is following results from a previous focused on humans rather than dogs.

Dogs that have been diagnosed with cancer and are receiving vincristine or doxorubicin (single-agent or CHOP-based protocol) can be enrolled at any of the three sites.

The study, which has received a Purina Institute Resident Research Award from the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Companion Animals Clinical Studies Fund, covers the costs of both food supplements and faecal analysis. Participants who complete all stages of the study will have the cost of their initial consultation refunded.

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.