Over half of the world's population still has limited access to critical medical diagnostics – especially those living in remote communities. Early detection is vital to survive cancer and many other diseases, yet in some regions, patients must travel for days to reach hospitals and medical centers to perform basic health checks.
“Dogs Without Borders” is a project created by VML Health for KDog, a canine medical detection unit founded by the renowned Curie Institute in Paris. The project trains rescued dogs to detect cancer and other disease so they can provide valuable medical detection resources to remote communities.
Dogs Without Borders
A unique project launched that trains rescue dogs to diagnose breast cancer - giving people living in remote communities access to diagnostics
Client
- SFBO (French-Brazilian Society of Oncology)
Office
- Brazil
- Madrid
- New York
Dogs Without Borders is a unique project that delivers a scalable solution to two long standing issues – abandoned dogs left to die and remote communities without basic diagnostics.
Dr. Carla Ismael
CEO, KDog
For many women in remote areas, mammograms are a distant reality. Access to medical care is limited and these women must travel long distances to visit medical facilities. Doctors and diagnostics cannot get to them, so we needed a solution that could.
Our teams were amazed by the number of stray dogs in remote locations, and also how hard it was for these communities to access healthcare.
As our understanding of the accuracy of medical detection dogs developed, we asked what if we could train these stray dogs to detect cancer in their local communities?
In its first year this project has diagnosed hundreds of women in remote areas across three continents. SFBO, our client, has also had enquiries to turn "Dogs Without Borders" into an NGO in its own right.
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Awards
2023 Cannes Lions
Sustainable Goals - Reduced Inequalities
Gold
2023 Cannes Lions
Brand Experience & Activation - Healthcare
Silver
2023 Cannes Lions
Brand Experience & Activation - Sponsorship & Brand Partnership
Bronze
2023 New York Festivals
Hell's Kitchen - Product Design
Gold
2023 New York Festivals
Avant-Garde/Innovative - Social/Environmental Good: Brand
Silver
2023 Mad Stars
Direct Stars - Pharmaceutical/Toiletries
Gold
2023 Mad Stars
SDGs - Good Health and Well Being
Silver
2023 Mad Stars
Outdoor Stars - Pharmaceutical/Toiletries
Bronze
2023 Mad Stars
Outdoor Stars: Ambient - Small Scale Special Solutions
Bronze
2023 El Ojo
Third Eye - Public Good ideas
Gold
2023 El Ojo
Brand Experience & Activation - Public Good and Government Messages
Gold
2023 El Ojo
Health - Promotion of Products and Services Aimed at the Patient/Professional
Silver
2023 El Ojo
Health - Education and Awareness of Public Good Brands
Silver
2023 El Ojo
Sustainable Goals - Social & Health
Silver
2023 El Ojo
Direct - Public Good and Government Messages
Silver
2023 El Ojo
Best Latin Idea for the World - Ibero-American Ideas for the World
Bronze
2023 El Ojo
Innovation - Brand Experience and Strategy
Bronze
2023 London International Awards
Transformative Business Impact - Community and Government Transformation: Sustainable Government and Community
Silver
2023 London International Awards
Pharma - Pharma & Medical Unbranded: Devices and Diagnostics
Gold
2023 London International Awards
Pharma - Pharma & Medical Unbranded: Innovation
Gold
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