CSU Animal Cancer Center

03/13/2026

Happy Friday the 13th! 🖤🐾

Black cats crossing your path.
Walking under ladders.
Spilled salt.

We’re not worried about superstition… but we are working hard to beat the real bad luck: cancer.

Good thing our patients are brave, our teams are brilliant, and our clinic is full of treats and tail wags. 🍀

03/12/2026

RadOnc Update! 💥

Our new Varian radiation therapy machine is officially in the building and well on its way to being installed! After nearly 20 years with our old machine, we're upgrading to provide the most advanced and effective treatment for our patients. This new machine will offer cutting-edge technology and will ensure pets get the care they need to fight cancer.

We're on target to reopen and treat patients again in mid-April!

Learn more: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/radiation-oncology-upgrade-frequently-asked-questions/

03/11/2026

Petco Love: Making Care Possible ❤️

National nonprofit, Petco Love, recently invested $100,000 in the Flint Animal Cancer Center to provide lifesaving investments for families of pets facing cancer.

With the support of Petco Love, Odin has a fighting chance to beat cancer. His pet parent wrote –

"Odin was found by a shelter in Texas while roaming the streets. After that, he eventually made his way to Colorado with the help of a cat rescue. I adopted Odin when he was two in the spring of 2023.

"Odin quickly made himself at home and became best friends with my other cat. Odin loves playing with toys, and he follows me everywhere. I never do anything alone, thanks to him.

"He brings me so much joy, laughter, and love. I truly believe he is my soul cat. In fall 2024, I found a bump on Odin's ribs. Things moved fast from there, and soon he had surgery to remove the tumor and four of his ribs. The surgery and everything else wiped my savings, but he is 100% worth it and more. Odin's prognosis was good, and he healed quickly. I cried with joy when he threw a toy in the air for the first time after surgery, because he felt good and was able to be his happy self again.

"When I felt a bump on his sternum in August, I was so scared. The CT scan revealed a second tumor near his spine. Surgery was not an option this time. The vet told me about radiation, but I had not been able to recover my savings from the year before. I would not have been able to afford radiation therapy without this lifesaving investment. With Petco Love's support, I was able to provide Odin with the best treatment option available to him.

"The Petco Love investment made it possible to get more time with Odin, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. Thank you for helping my soul cat. Thank you for giving him a chance to keep fighting and keep living his life with joy, love, and excitement. He may only be a little cat in this big world, but that little cat has my whole heart in his tiny paws."

~ Natalie F., Odin's Pet Parent

03/10/2026

Happy Clinical Trials Tuesday! We are still looking for dogs that have been diagnosed with B cell lymphoma for enrollment in a clinical trial. This study is evaluating the safety and immune effects of a novel immunotherapy treatment when injected directly into an affected lymph node. Click here to read more: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/clinical-trial/safety-and-biologic-effects-of-intranodal-injection-of-a-nonspecific-immunomodulator-in-canine-b-cell-lymphoma/

Canine B Cell Lymphoma clinical trial at the Flint Animal Cancer Center to measure the safety and immune effects of a novel drug.

03/09/2026

RadRes Represent! 💥

Last week, members of the Flint Animal Cancer Center team attended the Radiation Research Society Winter Workshop in Denver. 🧬✨

The workshop, “Comparative Radiation Research: The Role of Companion Animal Medicine in the Radiation Sciences," highlighted the unique and rapidly expanding impact of veterinary comparative models in advancing radiobiology, radiation oncology, and translational science.

Our team joined researchers and clinicians from around the world to share ideas, present cutting-edge findings, and discuss the future of radiation science and oncology. Opportunities like this help strengthen collaborations and keep our team at the forefront of discoveries that benefit both pets and people.

03/08/2026

Power through, Pip! 💪

Pip is a sweet Bernese Mountain Dog in our care. His family received a patient assistance grant to help cover care. His mom recently wrote the following –

"My name is Brittney, and I’m a 4th-year vet student at CSU. My beloved pup, Pip, was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma. This diagnosis came as a shock, as Pip is only 5 years old. At my initial visit, I was fearful that her diagnosis meant I would have to say goodbye much sooner than I wanted to. Chemo was provided as an option, but the price tag as a vet student was difficult to come to terms with.

"With the help of this grant, I was able to start chemo for my dog. With treatment, it feels like I got time back with Pip. She went from feeling terrible to racing me to the mailbox again. It has given me more quality time with Pip, feeling like herself again – running around again, and going on adventures with me. I am very grateful for this grant for helping me be able to afford treatment so that I can have more time with my best friend."

- Brittney L.

With your support, we can ensure that families like Pip's have a fighting chance against cancer. Give today: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/give-to-patient-assistance/

03/06/2026

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY! 💚 💛

Friday, March 6th, is recognized as Employee Recognition Day at Colorado State University! We might be biased, but we fully believe we have the best team around.

Your compassion, dedication, and expertise make a life-changing difference every single day. Thank you for your hard work, teamwork, and the unwavering commitment you bring to every case and research project. We deeply appreciate all that you do!

03/05/2026

It's a MATCH! ❤️ ⚕️

This week, the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) announced the new class of House Officers coming to CSU. We're thrilled for the future veterinary oncologists who will train in oncology at the FACC.

Our new trainees include –

⚕️ Medical Oncology Residencies – Drs. Katie Larsen, Shannon O'Day, and Brianna Jacobs

⚕️ Radiation Oncology Residency – Dr. Efstathia Palyvou

⚕️ Surgical Oncology Fellowships – Drs. Carma Horwood and Erin Smith

⚕️ Medical Oncology Specialty Internship – Dr. Claudia Odiot

⚕️ Clinical Trials Internship – Dr. Mariela Aponte Hernandez

Congrats to all! We can't wait to train the next generation of cancer fighters.

03/04/2026

Kudos, Dr. MacNeill! 🏆️

Six CSU-led projects, including one from FACC member, Dr. Amy MacNeill's lab, secure state funding to move high-potential innovations toward market.

MacNeill's project includes studying a new treatment for soft tissue sarcomas in dogs – an oncolytic virus designed to target cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.

Read more about the project here:

From bioscience to energy and natural resources, Colorado has identified advanced industries as key drivers of long-term economic growth. The Advanced Industries Proof of Concept (AI POC) Grant Program is one of the state’s primary tools for strengthening those sectors.

03/03/2026

Happy Clinical Trials Tuesday! Our clinical trial for dogs that have recently been diagnosed with a tumor called hemangiosarcoma of the spleen is still enrolling patients. This trial seeks to stimulate the patient’s own immune system to "Scout Out" and kill the cancer cells. All dogs will receive standard of care chemotherapy and will be randomized to receive either a novel anti-cancer vaccine or control vaccine. More information is available about this study on our website: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/clinical-trial/soch-scout-out-hemangiosarcoma-study/

This canine clinical trial for dogs with Hemangiosarcoma assess the safety and effectiveness of a specially designed vaccine.

03/02/2026

Cover-Worthy! 💚

Congrats to our very own Dr. Christine Hardy for her artwork gracing the cover of the March Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association issue.

“Phoenix Bison Skull” was created in 2024. The artwork featured on this cover was inspired by the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd in Northern Colorado.

The symbolism drawn from Native American folklore—including the Thunderbird and Phoenix—reflects themes of protection, strength, and renewal that parallel this conservation effort.

See more of her work here: www.christinehardyart.com

02/28/2026

ASPET Committee Officer in the House! 🔬

Congrats to Dr. Duval for being a newly elected Committee Officer for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), representing the Division for Cancer Pharmacology. Dawn is the Secretary/Treasurer-Elect.

ASPET is a leading research journal in the field of pharmacology.

Read more here: https://www.aspet.org/aspet/about-us/aspet-council/elections/2026-aspet-election-results

Way to go, Dawn!