Staff Reports
The UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s oncology program announced that it received a multimillion-dollar gift from the Dr. Larry and Ann Laiks Charitable Trust.
According to a UF release, the legacy gift comes “from a former dentist and his wife, who were Sarasota residents and dedicated dog lovers, canine cancer research at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will be boosted annually into perpetuity.”
The Ann and Lawrence G. Laiks Canine Cancer Fund will give ongoing contributions that will be made directly to the oncology program in the college’s department of small animal clinical sciences.
The funds are earmarked to support special collaborative canine cancer research with the UF Health Cancer Center that would elevate future discoveries, precision medicine, immunotherapy and genome mapping.
“This gift will enable us to further our important research in multiple ways, including cancer vaccines and immunology clinical trials,” said Dr. Rowan Milner, a professor of small animal oncology and director for clinical and translational research at the college. “We are extremely grateful that the fund he established will provide us with the resources to be able to meaningfully build on the strong foundation we have established here at UF to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of canine cancer in all forms.”
According to the release, the funds will be used in part to hire technical and postdoctoral staff to expand UF’s existing clinical trials program and to aid in the overall effort to answer fundamental questions relating to cancer immunology and resistance to immunotherapy, Milner said.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to be the recipients of Dr. Laiks’ incredible generosity, which is a testament not only to how much he cared for his dogs, but also to his vision that all dogs would one day have better chances of surviving cancer,” said Dr. Dana Zimmel, dean of the college.
“Our whole oncology team is passionately committed to making a difference in the lives of all animals who come to us for care,” she added. “We are gratified beyond measure that Dr. Laiks placed his trust in us so that we can continue to strengthen our mission of providing state-of-the-art care to our canine cancer patients as we acquire new knowledge that will impact the diagnosis and treatment of these patients for years to come.”