ChatGPT and AlphaFold: A Vaccine Saves Rosie from Cancer

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Key Takeaways

1Rosie, a dog diagnosed with cancer, saw her tumor regress thanks to a vaccine designed by her owner using ChatGPT.

2Paul Conyngham, with no background in biology, used ChatGPT to structure a personalized treatment based on tumor sequencing.

3In collaboration with UNSW and experts, an mRNA vaccine was developed, reducing Rosie's tumor by 50 to 75%.

💡Why it matters — This pioneering initiative illustrates the potential of AI tools in personalized medicine, even for animals.

An Innovation Born of Necessity

Rosie, a dog diagnosed with terminal cancer, defied the odds thanks to an mRNA cancer vaccine. This innovative treatment was developed by her owner, Paul Conyngham, with the help of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool. In 2024, veterinarians had informed Paul that Rosie had only a few months left to live. Determined to save his pet, this technology entrepreneur based in Sydney embarked on a scientific quest despite his lack of training in biology.

AI Serving Veterinary Medicine

Paul used ChatGPT to develop a precise action plan. The AI tool guided him in identifying the necessary analyses and relevant technologies, as well as connecting him with researchers. He reached out to the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to sequence Rosie’s tumor DNA. This crucial step cost approximately 3,000 Australian dollars.

A Collaborative and Innovative Process

After obtaining the DNA sequences, Paul compared the healthy and tumor DNA to identify the specific mutations in Rosie’s cancer. AI tools like AlphaFold were used to model the structure of the mutated proteins, allowing for the identification of therapeutic targets. In November 2024, Paul documented Rosie’s progress, with the help of ChatGPT to transform these results into a detailed specification document.

This specification included a list of neo-antigens to target and a suitable mRNA vaccine format. Working with teams from the UNSW RNA Institute and nanomedicine expert Palli Thordarson, the vaccine was quickly developed. Paul also had to draft a hundred-page ethics dossier to obtain permission to administer this experimental vaccine to Rosie.

Encouraging Results

Rosie received her first injection in December 2025, followed by boosters. According to Paul and the researchers, Rosie’s main tumor shrank by 50 to 75%, and her overall condition improved. However, Palli Thordarson clarified that while this may not have cured Rosie, it did extend her life.

A Promising Perspective

Rosie’s story raises questions about the regulation of veterinary treatments and the possibility of democratizing the design of cancer vaccines. Although this case is isolated, it paves the way for further research to confirm these promising results.