Man Uses ChatGPT To Build A Personalised Cancer Vaccine for his Dog

A rescue dog diagnosed with advanced cancer became the focus of an unusual scientific effort after her owner used artificial intelligence to design a personalised vaccine.

A technology entrepreneur created a custom cancer vaccine for his dog after veterinarians warned she had only months to live. Paul Conyngham, a Sydney-based data scientist and machine learning engineer, used artificial intelligence tools to analyse his dog Rosie's tumour and develop a targeted treatment. The project later drew attention from researchers after the experimental vaccine appeared to shrink a large tumour.

From Diagnosis to Experimentation

Rosie, a rescue dog owned by Conyngham, was diagnosed with advanced mast cell cancer in 2024. Veterinary treatment included chemotherapy, which slowed the spread of the disease but did not reduce the tumours. Doctors warned that the dog's condition was serious and that she had limited time remaining.

Conyngham has worked in data science and machine learning for 17 years but had no background in biology. Instead of accepting the prognosis, he decided to analyse the disease using artificial intelligence systems, including ChatGPT. The project aimed to identify the genetic mutations responsible for the cancer and develop a possible treatment.

DNA Sequencing Used To Identify Cancer Mutations

To begin the process, Conyngham arranged for Rosie's tumour DNA and healthy DNA to be sequenced, which was carried out at the University of New South Wales after he spent £2,350 (approximately $3,000) for the analysis. The data allowed him to compare healthy cells with cancer cells and identify the mutations linked to the disease. Artificial intelligence tools were then used to analyse the genetic information.

One of the systems involved was AlphaFold, a protein modelling programme used to predict how proteins form within cells. By combining the genetic data with these tools, Conyngham created a formula designed to target the mutations responsible for the tumour growth. He explained the process during a television interview, saying, 'We took her tumour, sequenced the DNA, we converted it from tissue to data, and we used that to find the problem in her DNA and then develop a cure based off that.' He also said that 'ChatGPT assisted throughout the entire process.'

Creation Of A Custom mRNA Vaccine

After identifying the mutations, Conyngham attempted to obtain an immunotherapy drug that could potentially treat the cancer. A pharmaceutical company declined to provide the medication for compassionate use. As a result, he pursued a different approach involving vaccine technology. Conyngham then worked with the RNA Institute at the University of New South Wales to manufacture a custom mRNA vaccine. The vaccine was based on the AI-generated formula designed to train the immune system to recognise cancer cells. Less than two months after the genetic sequence was completed, Rosie received her first injection in December.

Tumour Reduction After First Treatment

By mid-March, Conyngham reported a major change in Rosie's condition. According to his 15 March appearance on Australia's Today Show, the tumour on her leg had shrunk by around 75 percent. The mass had previously been described as roughly the size of a tennis ball. He also described improvements in the dog's behaviour and mobility.

Conyngham said, 'At the start of December her mobility was way down, she started to shut down and be a bit sad.' He later added, 'And towards the end of January, she was jumping over a fence to chase a rabbit.'

Researchers Note First Personalised Vaccine For A Dog

Researchers at the University of New South Wales said the case represents the first personalised cancer vaccine created for a dog. The treatment raised questions among scientists about how similar technology could be used for human patients. Martin Smith, director of the UNSW Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics, said the work highlights future possibilities for medicine.

He said, 'It raises the question, if we can do this for a dog, why aren't we rolling this out to all humans with cancer?' Páll Thordarson, director of the UNSW RNA Institute, also described the achievement as a sign of developing technology. He said the project shows how artificial intelligence tools could assist with medical research and treatment development.