Sydney Engineer Creates First mRNA Cancer Vaccine for Dog

A Sydney data engineer has developed and administered the world's first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine for a dog, using artificial intelligence tools to target aggressive tumors after conventional treatments failed. Paul Conyngham, co-founder of a technology consultancy, collaborated with researchers at the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland to create the vaccine for his eight-year-old rescue dog, Rosie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-Shar Pei cross. The treatment was given over the Christmas break in December 2025, and within a month, a tennis ball-sized tumor on Rosie's leg had shrunk by 75 percent, according to her veterinary team.

Rosie was adopted by Conyngham from a Sydney animal shelter in 2019. In 2024, veterinarians diagnosed her with mast cell tumors, the most common skin cancer in dogs, and estimated she had one to six months to live. Conyngham spent tens of thousands of dollars on chemotherapy and surgeries, which slowed the tumors' growth but did not reduce their size. Facing a grim prognosis, he approached the problem as a data analysis challenge, leveraging his 17 years of experience in machine learning.