An Australian data scientist designed an experimental mRNA therapy that shrank tumors in her pets after conventional treatment failed
An Australian data scientist used ChatGPT to develop a potential treatment for his dog after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Two years ago, Paul Conyngham’s Staffie-Sharp Pied Cross Rosie was diagnosed with mast cell cancer, an aggressive form of the disease in dogs. Veterinary surgery and chemotherapy slowed the tumors but failed to shrink them.
Conyngham, an electrical and computing engineer and co-founder of Core Intelligence Technologies, turned to ChatGPT to brainstorm possible treatments before using his expertise in data analysis to identify mutations in the tumor, map altered proteins using AlphaFold, and match potential targets.
“The first step was to reach out to the university to get Rosie’s DNA sequenced. You extract the healthy DNA from her blood and then the DNA from her tumor and sequence both to see exactly where the mutations occurred.” he told The Australian.
Researchers at UNSW’s Ramaciotti Center for Genomics helped sequence Rosie’s DNA, while the scientists used Conyngham’s mRNA design to synthesize the vaccine nanoparticle. The treatment was administered by University of Queensland veterinary oncologist Professor Rachel Allavena, who oversaw the experimental treatment.
Rosie received her first injection in December, followed by a booster shot the following month. Although the cancer persisted, the dog’s condition improved within weeks of treatment, with one tumor shrinking by about half. Rosie is now reportedly looking healthier and more energetic.
Scientists are now re-sequencing the tumor to design a second vaccine targeting cancer cells that did not respond to the first treatment.
Personalized mRNA cancer vaccines are being developed for humans. Last year, Russia’s health ministry approved several experimental cancer treatments developed by state-funded laboratories, including Neoncovac, an mRNA-based vaccine for advanced melanoma, and Oncopept, a peptide therapy targeting aggressive colorectal tumors. Personalized medicines may soon be available free of charge under Russia’s national health insurance system.
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