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Clinical Trials

Clinical trials help evaluate new cancer treatments by assessing their safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects. Participation in clinical trials at UTSW is entirely voluntary — the choice to enroll your pet is yours. However, enrollment in a trial is required for a patient to be seen in our clinic.

We are proud to offer innovative clinical trials focused on cancer care for companion animals. While specific outcomes cannot be guaranteed, our dedicated team is committed to delivering the highest standard of care. By enrolling your pet, you’re contributing valuable knowledge that helps advance future cancer treatments for both animals and humans. 

Please contact Paige Neumann, Research Study Coordinator, with any questions. paige.neumann@utsouthwestern.edu Paige or call VROC at 214-645-6221.

  • What are clinical trials?

    Clinical trials are research studies designed to evaluate new treatments or therapeutic interventions for use in clinical practice. These trials aim to determine the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of new drugs, treatments, surgical procedures, diagnostic methods, or novel therapeutic approaches. Participation in UTSW clinical trials is entirely voluntary, and it is your decision whether or not to enroll your pet. For any additional questions about a specific trial, please contact Paige Neumann, Animal Trials Coordinator. VROC@UTSouthwestern.edu or call 214-645-6221.

  • How do I know clinical trials are safe?

    There are risks associated with clinical trials, just as there are with medical procedures performed by your veterinarian. At UTSW, our clinical trials undergo review by an institutional committee to ensure animal welfare and safety. If you are interested in enrolling your pet in one of our clinical trials, you will be provided with an owner-informed consent form before enrolling. VROC@UTSouthwestern.edu us or call 214-645-6221 for the necessary information about the trial, including costs, risks, benefits, and other important details.

  • Why are clinical trials important?

    Clinical trials in both humans and animals provide investigators with valuable information about new, innovative, and potentially lifesaving drugs and therapies. VROC’s comparative oncology program is dedicated to discovering new treatments for both animals and humans. Enrolling your pet in a trial can advance veterinary medicine and offer insights into new treatments for human healthcare.

  • Which types of animals are eligible for our clinical trials?

    Currently, we are enrolling dogs and cats with various types of cancers.

  • Are only specific cancer types considered for enrollment in our trials?

    Our trials have a broad scope, although several studies are particularly interested in sarcoma, melanoma, mast cell tumor, renal, gliomas, squamous cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, etc.

  • What financial costs can I expect when enrolling my pet in a clinical trial?

    Owners enrolling their pets in our clinical trials will be responsible for 100% of the treatment, tissue, and data collection costs. However, some treatments supported by grants may be significantly subsidized.

  • If I enroll my pet in a trial, what are my responsibilities?

    Your pet will need to be seen by the veterinary team periodically and should receive the suggested therapeutics. The animal trials coordinator will provide the specific requirements based on the clinical study.

  • How will my pet benefit from enrolling in a clinical trial?

    Our team offers the most innovative clinical trials available for companion animal cancer treatments. While outcomes cannot be guaranteed, our veterinarians and trial staff are dedicated to providing your pet with the best care possible.

  • How do I know if my pet qualifies for a clinical trial?

    We recommend contacting the animal trials coordinator for more details, especially if it concerns a cancerous condition in your dog.

Cat and dog together

Current Trials

Veterinary Clinical Trials in Canine Patients Using Combination Novel Therapeutics, Devices, and Data Collection Techniques: This trial will utilize focused ultrasound (FUS), radiotherapy, novel drug combinations, immunotherapy and other therapeutic techniques to treat canines and felines with spontaneous tumors. View trial

Evaluation of Weekly Intratumoral Cow Pea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) in Dogs with Solid Tumors: This trial will assess the safety, feasibility, and immunotherapeutic effects of intratumoral administration of CPMV in dogs with naturally occurring solid tumors. View trial

Radiation and Histotripsy in Dogs and Cats with Solid Tumors: This trial will assess the safety and tumor response of combined radiation therapy (RT) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) histotripsy in dogs with naturally occurring soft tissue sarcoma. View trial

Evaluation of Calreticulin-Nanoparticles (CRT-NP) and HIFU Immunotherapy with or without Anti-PD-L1 in Canine Melanoma: This trial will evaluate the anti-tumor immunity of CRT-NP-based immunotherapy combined with HIFU, with or without anti-PD-L1 therapy, in dogs with advanced, naturally occurring melanoma. View trial

Intratumoral vs. Intravenous Carboplatin +/- HIFU in Canine Melanoma: This trial will assess the safety, tumor response, and delivery of carboplatin administered intratumorally (nanoparticle/microparticle formulation) vs. intravenously with or without HIFU enhancement. 
View trial

Prospective Non-Randomized Single-Arm Compassionate-Use Protocol for Advanced Non-Resectable Tumors in Dogs and Cats: This trial will evaluate tolerability, quality of life, and tumor immunomodulation in dogs and cats treated with investigational therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and combination approaches. View trial

Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy of CAR-Neutrophils Combined with Radiation in Dogs with Glioma: This trial will evaluate the combination of CAR-neutrophils with radiation in dogs with glioma to induce tumor shrinkage and improve overall survival. View trial

Safety and Efficacy of Ferumoxytol in Combination with Radiation Therapy in Dogs with Glioma: This trial will evaluate the combination of ferumoxytol with radiation in glioma-bearing canines for reprogramming the tumor microenvironment, inducing tumor cell destruction, and improving radiation therapy. View trial

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