The Perseus Foundation
Researching Cures. Saving Lives.
About Us
Our Story
Since 1999, The Perseus Foundation has been a lifeline for families facing the heartbreak of pet cancer. What began as an educational hotline—offering support and guidance to pet owners navigating difficult diagnoses—has grown into a catalyst for groundbreaking cancer research. In 2004, we expanded our mission to include direct financial assistance for treatment. Since then, we've answered over 7,500 calls for help and supported more than 1,770 pets in their fight against cancer.
Pioneering T Cell Therapy Research
Five years ago, we embarked on our most ambitious endeavor: partnering with Aurelius Biotherapeutics to advance T cell immunotherapy. Building on groundbreaking work that began at MD Anderson Cancer Center, our team has developed individualized, living immunotherapies to treat B cell lymphoma in dogs. We've supported over 770 T cell therapy treatments—each one advancing hope not only for dogs but for human oncology patients as well.
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This work represents the heart of comparative oncology: studying naturally occurring cancers in pets provides invaluable insights that accelerate discoveries for both species. With approximately 6-8 million new cancer diagnoses in dogs each year, our companion animals offer a unique opportunity to understand and defeat this disease.
How We Help
The MiliDog Fund – Supporting pets with urgent cancer care needs
The Perseus Magic Foundation – Our general fund providing flexible assistance for treatment and research
Perseus and the Arts – Education through creativity and innovation, bringing awareness to comparative oncology in ways that inspire and engage communities
We also provide essential resources on clinical trials and the triad of care. This empowers pet owners, veterinarians, and specialists to work together for the best outcomes.
Looking Forward
We remain committed to developing T cell therapies and exploring their transformative potential. Every family we support, every treatment we fund, and every research breakthrough we enable brings us closer to a future where cancer is no longer a death sentence.