7 current cancer treatment or research opportunities
About the UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials
UC Davis created a dedicated center to coordinate clinical studies at its veterinary teaching hospital. Its cancer researchers are especially known for work on how tumors spread and for moving new drugs and diagnostic methods from the laboratory into studies with companion animals.
Cancer types currently listedGlioma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Nasal Tumor, Oral Melanoma, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Where visits take placeUC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
Current options at UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials
Open an option to see who may qualify, locations, costs or coverage, contact details and the official source.
CAALM: UCD-PDL1 immunotherapy for oral melanoma metastatic to lung
UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Protocol VCCT-24-012 enrolls dogs with cytology- or biopsy-confirmed oral melanoma and at least one lung nodule consistent with metastasis. Dogs receive up to six biweekly UCD-PDL1 antibody treatments over 98 days. Recent chemotherapy, immunotherapy or corticosteroids within two weeks and uncontrolled comorbidity may exclude enrollment.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Metastatic; min expected survival weeks: 4 weeks; Active tumor required; Measurable lung metastases; Min weight kg exclusive: 15; Max weight kg exclusive: 36; chemotherapy washout: 14 days; steroid washout days: 14 days
May not qualify if: Prior checkpoint inhibitor
Costs / coverage: 🟢 Study-supported. UCD-PDL1 treatments, required diagnostics and imaging, and management of study-related adverse events up to $2,000 are covered; owners pay pre-enrollment consultation and eligibility diagnostics.
Contact: UC Davis VCCT — vcct@ucdavis.edu; 530-754-1954
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
Combinatorial PDL1-IRDye800 imaging to guide surgery for canine oral cancer
UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Protocol VCCT-26-008 enrolls dogs over one year old with confirmed oral SCC or oral malignant melanoma that are healthy enough for anesthesia and repeated visits. Anti-PDL1-IRDye800 is administered IV twice before near-infrared imaging at 8, 24 and 48 hours and repeat biopsy or curative-intent surgery. Recruitment period: 2026-06-30 through 2028-06-29.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Anesthesia eligible; Min age years exclusive: 1
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers the pre-operative biopsy and additional hospitalization time and provides a $1,500 incentive toward therapy; owners pay screening, oral-tumor workup and treatment costs beyond that incentive.
Contact: UC Davis VCCT — vcct@ucdavis.edu; 530-754-1954
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
FAP CAR-T cell therapy for canine soft tissue sarcoma
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Actively recruiting — confirmed on the institution’s current clinical-trials page
What is being offered: Dogs need a 2-8 cm soft tissue sarcoma, resectable or non-resectable, adequate CBC/chemistry/urinalysis and no incompatible major heart, liver or kidney disease. Untreated tumors and recurrent tumors after chemotherapy and/or radiation may qualify; chemotherapy must have ended at least 14 days before enrollment. Excludes metastatic disease predicting survival under three months, concurrent experimental cancer therapy, pregnancy/lactation, autoimmune disease other than atopic dermatitis, prior monoclonal checkpoint inhibitor such as gilvetmab, or personalized T-cell vaccine/immunotherapy. At UC Davis the current protocol requires age at least one year and weight at least 11 kg, with eight visits over approximately 70 days; study-related side-effect coverage is capped at $2,500 for Davis care. Historical enrollment at CSU does not alone establish a third currently enrolling site.
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Min tumor cm: 2; Min weight kg: 11; chemotherapy washout: 14 days; Max tumor cm exclusive: 8
May not qualify if: Pregnant or lactating; Autoimmune disease; Prior checkpoint inhibitor
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers FAP CAR-T cancer treatment through Day 56, provides $2,000 toward tumor removal, and covers treatment of side effects related to biopsy, cyclophosphamide and FAP CAR-T administration; unrelated care is owner-paid.
Contact: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
CARE trial: autophagy inhibition plus radiation for canine glioma
UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine / Translational Brain Tumor Center · USA
Actively recruiting — UC Davis recruitment announcement published September 3, 2026
What is being offered: Investigational autophagy inhibitor bisaminoquinoline-13 (BAQ-13), given intravenously twice weekly for four weeks with conventional radiation therapy and paired brain-tumor biopsies
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Suspected or confirmed glioma; Radiation therapy; Brain tumor biopsy; Planned radiation
Costs / coverage: Study covers study-related MRI/CT scans except the initial diagnostic MRI, brain-tumor biopsies, BAQ-13 and monitoring, and hospitalization related to study procedures. It provides $4,000 toward radiation costs at completion of RT and BAQ-13 treatment. Owners pay initial eligibility diagnostics and radiation costs beyond the contribution. Study-related complication care at UC Davis VMTH is covered up to $3,000.
Contact: UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials — (530) 754-1954; contact Dr. Christine Toedebusch / study team via the official UC Davis page
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
Transarterial embolization for canine nasal tumors
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Transarterial embolization of the arterial supply to the nasal tumor
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Ct screening
May not qualify if: Adjacent structure invasion
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers two PET/CT scans and associated anesthesia; owners pay for TAE, the eligibility CT if the dog cannot enroll, and treatment of complications.
Contact: Dr. William Culp — wculp@ucdavis.edu; 530-752-1393
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
Transarterial embolization or chemoembolization for non-resectable canine liver tumors
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Transarterial embolization (TAE) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), with CT-based response assessment about four weeks later
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Nonresectable or high surgical risk; Anesthesia eligible
May not qualify if: Significant other organ disease
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers study exams, diagnostic tests and CT scans; owners pay for the TAE/TACE procedure and treatment of procedure-related complications.
Contact: Dr. Bill Culp — wculp@ucdavis.edu; 530-752-1393
Location
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
A listing here does not mean every pet will qualify. Enrollment can change, and the study team makes the final decision after reviewing your pet’s diagnosis, records and previous treatment.
Have the pathology report, recent imaging and treatment history ready. Ask whether a referral is required, which visits must happen in person and what the study pays for before making travel plans.
