ACI describes itself in three words: Opportunity Compassion and Progress.  We aim to create opportunity three-fold: for pet owners to have new options for the pets with serious medical conditions, for companies serving animal health to learn whether their new drugs and products are safe and effective, and the opportunity for our network of veterinary specialists to have new treatment options for their clients and pet owners. We are a group of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, scientists, and support staff, all of whom love animals and are driven to do our work out of that love and compassion for our pet companions.  Further, we deliver progress to the veterinary community in the form of scientifically validated, new treatment options.

ACI has successfully designed and implemented more than 50 clinical studies for pet animals. These trials have tested novel chemotherapeutic agents, immunotherapeutic strategies using cytokine and tumor vaccines, anti-angiogenic therapies for dogs and cats with cancer, and specialized diets for animals. Trials have included pilot and proof-of-concept studies as well as pivotal trials submitted for regulatory approval. Trials are managed with consistent with Good Clinical Practice standards and in accordance with VICH guidelines.

Clinical trials organized by ACI have been primarily focused on testing new treatments for cancer through our network of collaborating veterinary oncologists and veterinary radiation oncologists. In fact, the ACI Oncology Network represents the largest veterinary cancer “faculty” in the United States. ACI draws upon a large caseload of veterinary cancer patients through its Network sites as well as academic veterinary teaching hospitals, allowing for the rapid accrual of high quality clinical data and expanded treatment options for pets and their owners visiting our clinical trial sites.

In the past few years, ACI has expanded our its efforts to include other complex medical conditions seen in pet animals including inflammatory and metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and other age-related problems.