In 2024, Sydney tech entrepreneur Paul Conyngham found out his dog Rosie had cancer. But after attacking the diagnosis with chemotherapy and surgery, the tumors persisted and Rosie got sicker.
So he turned to AI and eventually developed a custom a mRNA cancer vaccine with the help of Australian scientists. Most of Rosie’s tumors have shrunk, and the dog is back chasing rabbits.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT suggested immunotherapy and directed Conyngham to the University of New South Wales Ramaciotti Center for Genomics, according to a report in the Australian.
While Conyngham doesn’t have a background in medicine, he is an electrical and computing engineer who cofounded Core Intelligence Technologies. He was also a director for the Data Science and AI Association of Australia.
After reaching out to university, he convinced researchers there to help him and paid UNSW for Rosie’s genomic sequencing. Then he started digging into the DNA.
“I went to ChatGPT and came up with a plan on how to do this,” Conyngham told the Australian.
He also used AlphaFold, an AI tool from Google’s DeepMind, to find mutated proteins that could be potential targets for treatment. While an immunotherapy treatment that looked like a good fit for Rosie was identified, the drugmaker wouldn’t provide it.
Then nanomedicine medicine pioneer Pall Thordarson, director of UNSW’s RNA Institute, stepped in and used Conyngham’s data to develop a bespoke mRNA vaccine in less than two months.
“This is the first time a personalized cancer vaccine has been designed for a dog,” he told the Australian. “This is still at the frontier of where cancer immunotherapeutics are—and ultimately, we’re going to use this for helping humans. What Rosie is teaching us is that personalized medicine can be very effective, and done in a time-sensitive manner, with mRNA technology.”
Rosie got her first injection of the cancer treatment this past December, then received a booster in February. Most of her tumors have already shrunk dramatically. And while they haven’t disappeared, Rosie’s health has improved.
In a thread on X Saturday, Thordarson said Rosie’s story demonstrates that technology can “democratize” the process of designing cancer vaccines.
He cautioned that Rosie may not be cured as some tumors haven’t responded to the vaccine, though it bought her more time. Still, Conyngham will take it.
“In December she had low energy because the tumors were creating a huge burden for her,” he told the Australian. “Six weeks post-treatment, I was at the dog park when she spotted a rabbit and jumped the fence to chase it. I’m under no illusion that this is a cure, but I do believe this treatment has bought Rosie significantly more time and quality of life.”
Rosie’s journey has stunned some people in the tech world while also pointing to AI’s potential to produce breakthroughs in medicine, perhaps turning diagnoses once considered death sentences into routine ailments.
Matt Shumer, cofounder and CEO of OthersideAI, took to X over the weekend to flag a story about Conyngham and his dog.
“This is what I mean when I say the world is going to get very weird, very soon,” he wrote. “Expect more stories like this, each sounding increasingly more insane.”
In 2024, Sydney tech entrepreneur Paul Conyngham faced a personal crisis when his beloved dog Rosie was diagnosed with cancer. After initially attempting conventional treatments like chemotherapy and surgery, which unfortunately did not yield the desired results and left Rosie in declining health, Conyngham sought an innovative solution. Turning to artificial intelligence (AI), he collaborated with Australian scientists to develop a custom mRNA cancer vaccine, which has shown promising results in shrinking Rosie’s tumors and restoring her vitality.
The journey began when Conyngham consulted OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which suggested exploring immunotherapy and directed him to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Ramaciotti Center for Genomics. Despite lacking a medical background, Conyngham had expertise in electrical and computing engineering and had co-founded Core Intelligence Technologies. His experience as a director for the Data Science and AI Association of Australia aided him in navigating this complex situation.
Conyngham reached out to UNSW researchers and successfully secured their assistance, funding Rosie’s genomic sequencing to better understand her cancer. He meticulously analyzed the genetic data, leveraging AI tools to formulate a strategic plan. Notably, he utilized AlphaFold, an advanced AI tool developed by Google’s DeepMind, to identify mutated proteins that could serve as potential targets for treatment. Although he identified an immunotherapy that seemed suitable for Rosie, the pharmaceutical company producing the drug declined to provide it.
However, help came in the form of Pall Thordarson, a nanomedicine pioneer and director of UNSW’s RNA Institute. Utilizing the genomic data Conyngham provided, Thordarson developed a personalized mRNA vaccine tailored specifically for Rosie in under two months—a groundbreaking achievement as it marked the first instance of a customized cancer vaccine being designed for a dog. Thordarson emphasized that this work is at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy and holds promise for future applications in human medicine, underscoring the potential of personalized medicine through mRNA technology.
Rosie’s treatment commenced with her first injection of the vaccine in December, followed by a booster in February. The results were encouraging; although the tumors had not entirely disappeared, they had shrunk significantly, and Rosie’s overall health improved. Thordarson shared Rosie’s journey on social media, highlighting it as an example of how technology can democratize the design of cancer vaccines. He cautioned, however, that while Rosie had experienced a positive response, some tumors had not reacted to the vaccine, and thus, it was important to remain realistic about the outcome.
Conyngham reflected on the transformation in Rosie’s health, noting that prior to treatment, she displayed low energy levels due to the burden of her tumors. Just six weeks after receiving her treatment, he witnessed a remarkable change when Rosie, upon spotting a rabbit at the dog park, leaped the fence to chase it. Although he acknowledged that this was not a cure, Conyngham firmly believed that the treatment had significantly improved Rosie’s quality of life and extended her time with him.
The story of Rosie and Conyngham has garnered attention and admiration, particularly within the tech community, as it illustrates the potential for AI to drive advancements in medical treatments. Matt Shumer, cofounder and CEO of OthersideAI, expressed his astonishment at the developments, suggesting that such stories could reshape perceptions of medical possibilities in the near future.
Overall, Rosie’s experience serves as a compelling case study in the intersection of technology and medicine, showcasing how innovative approaches can lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions once deemed terminal. The collaborative effort between Conyngham and the scientists at UNSW not only highlights the transformative power of personalized medicine but also reinforces the notion that AI can play a crucial role in enhancing health outcomes and potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment for both pets and humans alike.
