Hello! We are a group of researchers from the University of Turin who have been collaborating for years in the fight against cancer. We have developed a vaccine (MeraVax) against the CSPG4 molecule expressed by osteosarcoma, a difficult-to-treat bone tumor that affects children and adolescents. This tumor also affects dogs. That's why we created MeraVax: to stimulate the immune system of both dogs and humans to combat the tumor.
We are currently testing MeraVax in dogs with osteosarcoma, with very encouraging results. However, to complete the research, we need to produce additional doses of the vaccine and acquire specific needles for its administration. With this project, we aim to validate the effectiveness of MeraVax against osteosarcoma in dogs and obtain the necessary data to extend its study to humans. Your contribution could help dogs today and potentially benefit young patients affected by this disease in the future. Thank you for being a part of this scientific progress.
Who we are
We are a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Turin who have decided to join forces and expertise to contribute to the fight against cancer. In our group, you will find experts in tumor immunology; talented veterinarians specialized in oncology; and skilled pathologists.
Together, we have formed a passionate and determined team to tackle an important medical challenge, combining the potential of immunotherapy with that of comparative oncology. Immunotherapy aims to stimulate the patient's immune system to react against the tumor. Comparative oncology is the study of "transversal" tumors that develop naturally, similarly in both dogs and humans. Our team, through the integration of various skills, has been working for years to identify treatments and cures that can benefit both humans and animals. In particular, our mission in recent years has been to develop an innovative vaccine against the CSPG4 molecule, which is present in various types of tumors, including osteosarcoma, a devastating bone tumor that primarily affects children and adolescents. What makes this challenge even more special is that osteosarcoma also afflicts our four-legged friends, dogs, and this same molecule is present in these canine tumors as well. We are a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Turin who have decided to join forces and expertise to contribute to the fight against cancer.
Therefore, we have developed our vaccine, MeraVax, in a way that it could serve as a true bridge between species. It has been designed to stimulate the immune system in both humans and dogs.
The goal of this vaccine is to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of metastases, which pose a significant challenge in cancer treatment, thereby paving the way towards recovery. We are currently testing MeraVax in client-owned dogs affected by spontaneous osteosarcoma, thanks to generous owners who understand the importance of the study.
The results are more than encouraging. However, to complete our veterinary study and produce the necessary doses of the vaccine, we need to raise funds and purchase special needles for administration.
What are we planning to do with your help?
Thanks to donations, we could purchase the 5 kits needed to produce the vaccine for dogs already in treatment and enroll other 12 dogs. In this way, within 18 months, we could treat enough dogs and carefully study their response to the vaccine. This study will not only help to confirm the vaccine's effectiveness in treating osteosarcoma in dogs, but will also provide essential data to evaluate and, in the future, apply the vaccine in patients affected by this devastating disease. With your support, today we can make a difference in the lives of sick dogs, and tomorrow we hope to extend this treatment to children and adolescents affected by osteosarcoma.
We are grateful for every donation, big or small, that can bring us closer to achieving this ambitious goal: saving the lives of our loved ones, whether they have two or four legs! 
For the support and participation in this project, we thank UGI, IGEA, ISABELLA Dental Care
