HEALTH NEWS: An Australian data scientist designed an experimental mRNA therapy. It shrank tumors in his pet. This happened after conventional treatment failed.

An Australian data scientist used ChatGPT to develop a potential treatment for his dog. His dog was diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer.

Two years ago, Paul Conyngham’s staffy-shar pei cross Rosie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of mast cell cancer. This type of cancer affects dogs. Veterinary surgery and chemotherapy slowed the tumours but failed to shrink them.

Conyngham is an electrical and computing engineer. He is also a co-founder of Core Intelligence Technologies. He turned to ChatGPT to brainstorm possible treatments.

He then used his expertise in data analysis to identify mutations in the tumor. Conyngham mapped altered proteins using AlphaFold. Finally, he matched potential targets with drugs.

‘The first step was to reach out to the university to get Rosie’s DNA sequenced.

The idea is to extract the healthy DNA from her blood. Then, take the DNA from her tumor. Sequence both to see exactly where the mutations have occurred,’ he told the Australian.

Researchers at UNSW’s Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics helped sequence Rosie’s DNA. Scientists used Conyngham’s mRNA design to synthesize the vaccine nanoparticle.

The treatment was administered by veterinary oncologist Professor Rachel Allavena of the University of Queensland, who oversaw the experimental therapy.

Rosie received her first injection in December, followed by a booster shot the following month. Despite the cancer being advanced, the dog’s condition improved within weeks of treatment, with one tumor shrinking by nearly half. Rosie now reportedly appears healthier and more energetic.

Scientists are sequencing the tumor again. They aim to design a second vaccine. This vaccine targets cancer cells that did not respond to the first treatment.

Personalized mRNA cancer vaccines are also being developed for humans.

Last year, the Russian Health Ministry approved several experimental cancer therapies developed by state-funded laboratories.

These include Neooncovac, an mRNA-based vaccine for advanced melanoma. Another therapy is Oncopept, a peptide treatment targeting aggressive colorectal tumors.

The personalized drugs would soon become available free of charge under Russia’s national health insurance system.

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