Our special thanks to the many who have supported and participated in the planning of this Anniversary Symposium.
Funding
University Research Foundation
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine
NIH T32 AI070077
NIH T35 OD010919
MSTP Program
Vice Dean for Research
Department of Pathobiology
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Planning
Robyn Allen
Michael Atchison
Bruce Freedman
Gayle Joseph
Nicola Mason
Michael May
Yong No
Ian Penkala
Jenni Punt
Susan Volk
VMD-PhD Executive Committee
Michael Atchison
Bruce Freedman
Nicola Mason
Michael May
Yong No
Jenni Punt
Susan Volk
The VMD-PhD Program: A Brief History
Director: Dr. Ralph Brinster, 1969-1984
Dr. Mark Allam, Former Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, initiated what is now the VMD/PhD Program in late 1968, when he approached Dr. Ralph Brinster about preparing a special grant to the National Institutes of Health. This grant was to provide financial support to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical medicine, and had at that time been awarded to only premier medical schools. In the spring of 1969, a successful application and site visit gave birth to the Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program (VMSTP). Close ties to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Penn Med were central to the success of the VMD/PhD Program, and after the first renewal site visit in 1974, the two Programs were merged under one grant. The MSTP Director, Dr. James Ferguson, and Dr. Brinster worked together to maximize Penn’s considerable academic resources for combined degree trainees.
Director: Dr. Richard Miselis 1984-1994
In 1984, Dr. Richard Miselis, then Associate Professor of Animal Biology and the Program’s first graduate, assumed Directorship of the VMSTP. Richard ran the program for the next decade and the program continued its history of success initiated under Dr. Brinster.
Director: Dr. John Wolfe 1994-2001
In 1994, Dr. Miselis stepped down, and he was followed by another Program alumnus, Dr. John Wolfe. John ran the program for 7 years and continued the program’s association with the MSTP program, and in selecting outstanding candidates.
Director: Dr. Michael Atchison 2001-present
In 2001, Dr. Michael Atchison became the Program’s fourth and current director. The Program has remained true to its mission to train outstanding veterinarian-scientists who will make valuable contributions to the advancement of science and medicine through research, clinical activities, and training.
The Program has enjoyed considerable growth over its 50 years, and now boasts 24 current students and 79 alumni who hold high level positions in academia, industry, and government. The first female alumnus of the Program was Dr. Joan Hendricks who rose to the position of Dean of the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine. Her brief biography is on the following pages.
Brief Biography
Joan Hendricks, VMD, PhD
The Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine emerita
Assuming her responsibilities as the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine in 2006, Dean Hendricks believes that veterinarians play an integral part in ensuring public health and food safety, guarding against bio- and agro-terrorism and working to protect the environment. She has played a lead role in lobbying to state legislators on behalf of the School. This broad view of the impact of veterinarians in society is encompassed by the One Health Initiative.
Before taking on the role as Dean, Dr. Hendricks served as a faculty member for Penn Vet for more than 20 years.
In her role as a faculty member, Dean Hendricks became the first woman to hold an endowed professorship at the School when she was named the Henry and Corinne R. Bower Professor of Small Animal Medicine in 2001. She has also served as chief of critical care in the Department of Clinical Studies at Philadelphia and is founding directo r of the Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center (VCIC). Dean Hendricks holds a secondary appointment as professor in the Department of Medicine at Penn’s School of Medicine and has served in a leadership position in the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA).
Dean Hendricks’ work has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and the Journal of Applied Physiology, and she is frequently invited to lecture at major conferences around the world. During her sabbatical year, she investigated how molecular biology could be applied to neuroscience, specifically to the field of sleep and sleep disorders, in which Dean Hendricks is a recognized expert. She has studied bulldogs extensively and published pioneering studies on the molecular biology of sleep in fruit flies in the high-impact journals Nature Neuroscience and Neuron.
In 1979 and 1980, Dean Hendricks earned her VMD and PhD from the School, respectively. She also carried out her residency and postdoctoral fellowship at Penn. She has a bachelor of science in biology and psychology from Yale University.
Notable Penn Vet Achievements and Milestones as Dean:
• Celebrated 125th anniversary of the School, which included a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event that offered free vaccines to dogs and cats in the West Philadelphia neighborhood. The event has since become an annual tradition. (http://125th.vet.upenn.edu/).
• Launched the largest campaign in the School's history with a goal of $125 million, raising over $133 million by the close of the campaign in 2013.
• Opened a Shelter Animal Medicine program in which Penn Vet students get first-hand experience working with the shelter animal population and shelter an imals benefit from the care of veterinary professionals.
• Established a Laminitis Fund and Richardson Chair to build a program aimed at understanding, preventing and treating equine laminitis.
• Revamped the Old Vet Courtyard by laying sod and providing a central, green gathering space for students, faculty and staff.
• Opened the best-in-class James M. Moran, Jr. Critical Care Center at New Bolton Center, which cares for some of the most ill equine patients.
• Increased class size to 125, focusing on increasing applications and admissions for students with diverse aspirations (public health, global veterinary medicine, food safety and food security, academia, biomedical research, and other public veterinary medicine priorities).
• Established Working Dog Center. (http://www.pennvetwdc.org/)
• Founded Penn Vet/Wharton Executive Veterinary Leadership program – the first of its kind to focus on increasing influence and leadership of mid-career veterinarians.
• Created the University-wide Award for Excellence in Promoting One Health with the Deans of the Health Schools of the University of Pennsylvania (Perelman School of Medicine, School of Nursing Science, School of Dental Medicine.
• Received the Provost/Trustee Council of Penn Women in 2018 in recognition of support for University of Pennsylvania women faculty https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/joan-hendricks-tcpw-provost-award
• Recognized by Penn Vet and the PVMA with permanent recognition of Dean Hendricks; co contributions:
Hendricks endowed scholarship (to support One Health-oriented students)
Hendricks One Health" Leadership award established by the PVMA to honor her legacy and recognize those who lead One Health in the future
Dedication of the Hendricks Old Vet Archway in Philadelphia and the Hendricks Allam House Walkway at New Bolton Center
Penn Vet Student Research Day Thursday, March 21, 2019
11:30 am –12:30 pm Poster Session I and Buffet Lunch Hill Lobby
Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc The Gilbert S Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Student Presentations Billhardt Auditorium Overflow to Moorokian Auditorium
Introduction of VMD students: Sabina I. Hlavaty, HHMI-BWF Research Fellow Talks: 10 min + 5 min Q & A
12:45 1:00 pm Mariel Covo: Optimization of Canine CAR T Cell Production for Re-Directed T Cell Therapy (mentor: Dr Nicola Mason)
1:00 1:15 pm Katherine Neupauer-Geating Influenza Induces Robust Vascular Regeneration Mediated by Both Canonical and Non-canonical Progenitor Cells (mentor: Dr Andrew Vaughan)
1:15 1:30 pm John Cain Molecular Dissection of Mosquito Resistance to Heartworm Infection (mentor: Dr. Michael Povelones)
1:30 2:15 pm Break with Poster Session II
Introduction of VMD/PhD students by Gregory Sousa
2:15 2:30 pm Robyn Allen Novel BMP-Smad1/5 Signaling Interactions Revealed in a Zebrafish Model of FOP (mentor: Dr. Eileen Shore & Mary Mullins)
2:30 2:45 pm Rebecca Rosenthal T-bet Expression Marks a Tissue Restricted Memory B Cell Subset (mentor: Dr Michael Cancro)
2:45 3:00 pm Ian Penkala Cellular Plasticity in Lung Development (mentor: Dr. Edward E Morrisey)
3:00 3:50 pm Break with Poster Session III Hill Lobby
3:55 pm 4:45 pm The Class of 66 Lectureship 40 min talk with 10 min Q & A
Towards Understanding How Lipid Metabolism Influences Immunity
Steven Bensinger, VMD, PhD
Associate Professor, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
4:45 pm Awards for Oral Presentations, Best Posters, and Inspiration Awards Presented by Phillip Scott, Vice Dean for Research and Academic Resources
5:00 pm Reception for all and Welcome to Penn Vet Alumni 132 and Hill Lobby
Penn Vet: Advancing Research and Medical Synergies
VMD PhD 50th Anniversary Symposium Friday, March 22, 2019
8:30 AM Welcome: Dean Andrew Hoffman, DVM, DSc Billhardt Auditorium Hill 131 MD -PhD Program Director Comments: Lawrence Brass, MD PhD VMD PhD Program Director Comments: Michael Atchison, PhD
Session 1: VMD PhD Alumni Presentations
Introductions by current VMD PhD students: Jaclyn Carlson, Suna Li, Ian Penkala, Brinkley Raynor
9:00 Jaime F. Modiano, VMD, PhD; Alvin and June Perlman Professor of Animal Oncology; Director, Animal Cancer Care and Research Program, University of Minnesota Dogs, Kids, and Elephants – How We Answered Peto’s Paradox and Developed NextGeneration Solutions for Cancer Prevention
9:25 LaTasha K. Crawford VMD, PhD, DACVP
Assistant Professor, Pathobiological Sciences, Univerity of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
Exploring the Role of “Touch” Neurons in the Pathophysiology of Pain
9:50 Dr. Catherine Brinkley, VMD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Community and Regional Development in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis
One Health and Land-Use
10:15 Coffee Break / Posters / Career Locations
Posters from the Vet Student Research Day (Thursday March 21) will remain in place in the Hill Lobby throughout the Symposium
10:35 Director comments: Dr. Richard Miselis, VMD, PhD
10:45 Theresa Alenghat, VMD, PhD
Assistant Professor Division of Immunobiology
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Epigenomic regulation of the host-microbe relationship in health and disease
11:10
Alexander J. Travis VMD, PhD
Director, Cornell University Master of Public Health Program
Associate Dean for International Programs and Public Health, Professor of Reproductive Biology & Wildlife Conservation, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
A Tale of Twenty Years: Developing a Male Fertility Diagnostic Assay
11:35 Comments by Dr. Joan Hendricks, VMD, PhD (Dean of PennVet 2006-2018)
11:45 Lunch Break (Hill Pavilion Lobby)
Student-Alumni Networking Lunch
Alumni Participants: All academic speakers from the morning session and the following alumni from NIH, Industry, government, and academia
Jessica Bertout, VMD, PhD; Director of Clinical Research, Presage Biosciences
Kate Masek Hammerman, VMD, PhD: Associate Research Fellow/Veterinary Pathologist, Pfizer
James Kehler, Founder, One Health Scientific LLC
Albee Messing, VMD, PhD: Professor Emeritus, Director Waisman Center, Univ. Wisconsin Madison
Natalie Miller, VMD, PhD; Veterinary Medical Officer, FDA
Stephanie Murphy, VMD, PhD; Director, Division of Comparative Medicine, NIH
Xuan Pan, VMD, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine
Gregory Rak VMD, PhD; Senior Research Investigator, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD: Professor Emerita, Fulbright Scholor, Rutgers University
Abigail Shearin, VMD, PhD: Veterinary Medical Officer, FDA
Todd Strochlic, VMD, PhD: Assistant Professor, Drexel University
Session 2: Research and Medical Synergies
Chair: Joan Hendricks, VMD, PhD
1:00 The Microbiome in Human and Animal Disease
Moderator: Christopher Hunter, PhD
Speaker 1: Robert Baldassano, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Speaker 2: Daniel Beiting, PhD
Assistant Professor, PennVet IBD, Diet and the Microbiome
Paul A. James and Charles A. Gilmore Endowed Chair Professorship
Associate Professor of Medicine
Genetically engineered T cells for dogs with cancer and autoimmunity
Speaker 2: Aimee S. Payne, MD, PhD
Albert M. Kligman Associate Professor of Dermatology University of Pennsylvania
CAAR T cells: finding synergy in approaches to cancer and autoimmune disease therapy in canines and humans
2:20 Coffee Break / Posters/ Career Locations
2:40 Director Comments: John Wolfe, VMD, PhD
2:50 Cancer Center Synergies
Moderator: Kenneth Zaret, PhD
Speaker 1: M. Celeste Simon, Ph.D.
Scientific Director and Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research
Institute University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Symbioses in the Tumor Microenvironment
Speaker 2, Ellen Pure, Ph.D. Grace Lansing Lambert Professor and Chair
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Director, Penn Vet Cancer Center University of Pennsylvania
Penn Vet: Where cutting -edge research meets compassionate care
3:30
4:00
Student Research Programs
Jennifer Punt, VMD, PhD
Associate Dean of One Health Professor, Pathobiology
Undergraduate Student Research
Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD
Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Director of Biomedical Graduate Studies
Graduate Student Research
New Bolton Center Connections
Dean Richardson, DVM
Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Chief, Large Animal Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Session 3: Keynote Address
4:30
Ralph Brinster, VMD, PhD
Richard King Mellon Professor of Reproductive Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Understanding and Modifying the Mammalian Genome
5:30 Closing Comments
6:15
Closing Banquet: City Tap House 3925 Walnut Street (second floor)
ALUMNI BIOGRAPHIES
The VMD/PhD Program at the School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania 1969-2019
Theresa Alenghat
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
VMD: 2003 PhD: 2007
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Mitch A. Lazar
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Molecular and physiologic significance of the nuclear receptor corepressor-HDAC3 complex
Undergraduate: Brown University
B.S., Applied Mathematics/Biology, 1999
Dr. Theresa Alenghat is an Assistant Professor in the Immunobiology Division at Cincinnati Children’ s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Alenghat received her veterinary degree and pathology residency training at the University of Pennsylvania. She also did her PhD in molecular biology as well as postdoctoral work at the same institution working with Drs. Mitch Lazar and David Artis, leaders in the fields of metabolism and immunology, respectively. She joined Cincinnati Children’s in 2014 and has established a research program to investigate molecular mechanisms that regulate the host-microbe relationship and how this level of regulation affects susceptibility to infection, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity. Dr. Alenghat oversees a Gnotobiotic Mouse Facility and plays an active role in the Immunology, Cell Biology, and Developmental Biology Graduate Groups and the Medical Scientist Training Program. Her research includes investigation of epigenomic pathways that regulate epithelial and immune cell homeostasis in the context of the signals from the intestinal microbiota. Her work in this area has been published in multiple high profile journals including Nature, Science, and Nature Immunology. At this early stage, Dr. Alenghat has also already been successful in securing substantial extramural funding from the NIH, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Pew Charitable Trust, and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
Career Path
2014-present Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Division of Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
2012-2014 Instructor, Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
2010-2012 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylania, Dr. David Artis
2008-2011 Resident in Veterinary Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2007-2008 Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Dr. Mitchell A. Lazar
2005-2006 Part time veterinarian, Old Marple Veterinary Hospital, Springfield, PA
Awards and Honors
-Burroughs Welcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists (2014)
-Young Investigator Award, Merial-NIH National Symposium (2012)
-Charles Louis Davis Pathology Scholarship Award (2010)
-Stanley E. Bradley Award in Bench Research; Univ. of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine (2008)
Contact Information
Dr. Theresa Alenghat
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Division of Immunology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Research Scientist in Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2014
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Mark Lemmon
Graduate Group: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Topic: Regulation and Kinase Activity of the TRK Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
Undergraduate: Haverford College
B.S., Biochemistry, 2004
Dr. Artim’s interests are rooted from his experiences in the laboratory of Dr. Jenni Punt (VMD,PhD) as an undergraduate studying immune signal transduction pathways and cellular communication. As a graduate student, he examined the signaling pathways at the receptor level by studying the structure of receptor tyrosine kinases. During his lab animal medicine residency, he expanded his interests by studying hostpathogen interactions utilizing a systems biology approach by understanding the local cytokine levels in response to a chronic infection compared to the systemic cytokine levels. Currently, Dr. Artim is expanding this approach to a colony wide level to evaluate the health status in an animal colony and to elucidate biomarkers and/or insight on etiology of disease in the colony. The goal is to better understand the health status of animals used in biomedical research to facilitate a better understanding of the model.
Career Path
2018-present Research Scientist, Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2015-2018 Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Awards and Honors
-Second Place Clinical Poster (2018)
-First Place Clinical Poster, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science National Meeting (2017)
-Veterinary Scientist Training Grant Fellow (T32-OD010978), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (20152018)
-American Society for Laboratory Animal Practice Veterinary Student Award (2015)
-PhiZeta Student Research Oral Presentation Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (2014)
-PhiZeta Student Research Poster Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (2011)
-Structural Biology Training Grant Fellow (T32-GM008275), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (2010 – 2012)
-Predoctoral Fellowship awarded, American Heart Association ( 2011)
Contact Information
Dr. Stephen Artim
Division of Comparative Medicine
Massachusetts Institute of Technology sartim@mit.edu
Susan Bender
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathobiology
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 2011 PhD: 2010
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Susan Weiss
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Topic: T cell-mediated immune response to murine conronavirus and its role in pathogenesis
Undergraduate: Elizabethtown College
B.S., Biology, 2003
Dr. Bender is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pathobiology at PennVet, stationed at the New Bolton Center campus. As part of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS), her pathology laboratory receives autopsy and surgical biopsy specimens from a broad array of animal species including livestock, poultry, companion animals, wildlife, and captive exotics. Dr. Bender’s specific diagnostic interests include infectious diseases of livestock and poultry, neurologic diseases of horses, and forensic pathology as it pertains to the investigation of suspected animal abuse (which comprises a growing part of her diagnostic caseload). In addition to her role as a diagnostic pathologist, she teaches a variety of pathology topics to the second and third year veterinary students and is actively involved in the training of the anatomic pathology residents. In her free time, she is pursuing yet another graduate degree in Veterinary Forensic Science through the University of Florida’s online master’s degree program.
Career Path
2017-present Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathobiology, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2013-2017 Lecturer, Pathobiology Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2011-2014 Resident Anatomical Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
Dr. Susan Bender
New Bolton Center 382 W. Street Road benders@vet.upenn.edu
Steven Bensinger
Associate Professor, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
University of California, Los Angeles
VMD: 1998 PhD: 2003
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Laurence Turka
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: Development and function of CD4+25+ regulatory T cells
Undergraduate: Rice University
B.A., Political Science, 1990
Dr. Bensinger is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his Veterinary Medical Degree (VMD) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania School of Biomedical Graduate Studies. Dr. Bensinger’s doctoral work was completed under the mentorship of Dr. Laurence Turka, and was focused on understanding the signals dictating the development and function of CD4+ regulatory T cells. Dr. Bensinger subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Tontonoz at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he examined the impact of cholesterol metabolism on lymphocyte function and adaptive immunity. Dr. Bensinger’s laboratory was established in 2008 at UCLA and is focused on applying advanced analytical methods to determine how lipid metabolism influences the innate and adaptive immune system. Dr. Bensinger is the Sherie and Don Morrison Endowed Chair in Immunology, and serves as Director of Immunology, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation (I3T) Research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Director of the UCLA Lipidomics Laboratory. Dr. Bensinger’s work has helped to delineate the crosstalk between metabolic pathways and immune cell function, and he is considered a thought leader in the field of immuno-metabolism.
Career Path
2015-present Associate Professor, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles
2008-2015 Assistant Professor, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
2005-2008 Postdoc, Laboratory of Peter Tontonoz, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
2003-2005 Postdoc, Laboratory of Douglas Green, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, San Diego, CA
Contact Information
Dr. Steve Bensinger
University of California, Los Angeles
615 Charles E. Young Drive Los Angeles, CA 90095 sbensinger@mednet.ucla.edu
Jessica Bertout
Director of Clinical Research
Presage Biosciences, Inc
VMD: 2010 PhD: 2008
Thesis Mentor: Dr. M. Celeste Simon
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Developmental Biology
Topic: An analysis of the role of Hypoxia Inducible Factor HIF2a in tumorigenesis using a p53 deficient mouse tumor model and wild type P 53 human cancer cell lines
Undergraduate: Yale University
B.A./B.S., Major, 2001
Dr. Bertout joined Presage Biosciences in 2013 to lead the company’s comparative oncology program after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in translational research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She initially on evaluated Presage’s CIVO medical device platform in canine cancer patients recruited through a consortium of regional veterinary hospitals. She then transitioned to the human clinical research team and currently directs Presage’s clinical programs. She oversees a feasibility study in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, and focuses is on expanding Presage’s clinical portfolio to include multiple industry-sponsored Phase 0 studies. By applying Presage’s CIVO technology in the Phase 0 setting, Presage seeks to mitigate the problem in which many candidate drugs fail in clinical trials because drug development studies performed in mouse models are rarely predictive of efficacy in human patients. Presage’s CIVO device, a single-use 3- to 8needle microinjector coupled with a tracking marker, delivers investigational agent microdoses directly into a target tumor enabling evaluation of the agent’s effects on the tumor microenvironment . Presage seeks to reduce patient exposure to potentially toxic drugs, save invaluable drug development time, evaluate multiple drug candidates and combinations, and allow companies to prioritize the agents most likely to succeed. Dr. Bertout is developing Presage’s network of clinical sites and has worked closely with Presage’s engineering and regulatory teams. She is also collaborating with Dr. Jim Perry at PennVet on a CIVO study focused on evaluating multiple oncology agents, in feline patients with mammary adenocarcinoma.
Career Path
2018- present Director, Clinical Research and Attending Veterinarian, Presage Biosciences, Inc., Seattle WA
2016-2017 Associate Director, Comparative Oncol. and Attending Veterinarian, Presage Biosciences, Inc. 2014-2016 Senior Scientist, Presage Biosciences, Inc, Seattle WA
2011-2014 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Dr. Jason Bielas, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA
Awards and Honors
-Gilman Family Scholar Award from the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research (2013)
-Graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (2010)
-Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work in Laboratory Animal Medicine and/or Biomedical Research (2010)
-Phi Zeta National Veterinary Honor Society Award (2010)
-NCI Cancer Pharmacology Training Grant (2006-2008)
Contact Information
Dr. Jessica Bertout
Presage Biosciences Inc.
530 Fairview Avenue N, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98109
Jessica.bertout@presagebio.com
Kim Blackwell Professor
George Mason University
VMD: 1986 PhD: 1988
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Gerson Buchsbaum
Graduate Group: Bioengineering
Topic: The role of spatial and chromatic parameters in image processing by the visual system
Undergraduate: Boston University
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, 1981
Kim 'Avrama' Blackwell is a professor in the Bioengineering Department and the Krasnow Institute of Advanced Studies. Dr Blackwell investigates calcium dynamics and signaling pathways involved in long term memory storage. One of the fundamental, unsolved questions in neuroscience is how different spatiotemporal patterns of input produce different memories and shape information processing. She also investigates the role of dopamine in both normal reward learning, addiction and Parkinson's disease. Her lab develops novel computer software and realistic neuronal models, as well as using electrophysiology to answer these questions.
Career Path
2016-present Professor, Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University
2008-present Krasnow Professor of Computational Neurosciences and Neurophysiology, The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies, George Mason University
2007-2016 Associate Professor, Molecular Neuroscience Department, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies, George Mason University
2006-2007 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, George Mason University
2000-2006 Associate Professor, School of Computational Sciences, George Mason University
1996-2000 Associate Professor, Institute for Computational Sciences and Informatics, George Mason University
1988-1996 Research Scientist, Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Advanced Concepts Department
Krasnow Institute 168 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax VA22030 Kblackw1@gmu.edu
Catherine Brinkley Assistant Professor
College of Agricultural and Environmental Science
University of California, Davis
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2013
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Tom Daniels
Graduate Group: City Planning
Topic: Fringe Benefits: quantitative and qualitative study of urban form on farmland functions
Undergraduate: Wellesley College
B.A., Biology and Russian Area Studies, 2004
Dr. Brinkley’s research centers around One Health, a concept that considers health shared among humans, animals and the environment. She is a veterinarian (VMD) and a city planner (PhD) who conducts spatial analyses to inform practice-oriented policies. Her work is used internationally by the United National Food Agriculture Organization as well as local communities to guide plans and policies.
Dr. Brinkley’s lab group currently works on two main research questions mapping agricultural networks that create opportunities, such as local food security and renewable energy. Their research seeks to answer the broad question: how do food systems reorient diets and land-uses? Their findings are published in leading planning and policy journals.
Her research is bolstered by the Inspiration Award (2009), the largest monetary award in the veterinary profession ($100,000) and a National Science Foundation CAREER award (2018-2023).
Career Path
2015 – present Assistant Professor, Community and Regional Development, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis
Awards and Honors
-National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Fellow (2017)
-American Veterinary Medical Association, Policy Advocacy Internship on Capital Hill (2014)
-Fulbright Fellowship (2006)
-Watson Fellowship (2004)
Contact Information
Dr. Catherine Brinkley
Community and Regional Development Hart Hall, 1 Shields Ave, Davis CA ckbrinkley@ucdavis.edu
Irene Bukh Brody
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2014
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Michael Betts
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Topic: Blood and Guts: Consequences of Adenovirus Vector Vaccination on T Cell Activation and SIV Susceptibility in Rhesus Macaques
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
B.S., Behavioral Neuroscience, 2007
Career Path
2016 – present Postdoctoral Researcher, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
Irene Bukh Brody irenebukhbrody@gmail.com
Sarah Bushmeyer Veterinarian
Dogwood Pet Hospital
VMD: 1992 PhD: 1997
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Michael Atchison
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Transcription factor YY1 and its role in regulating transcription of the immuoglobulin light chain enhancer
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Biochemistry, 1984
Career Path
2008-present Veterinarian, Dogwood Pet Hospital, Loves Park, IL
1998-2007 Associate Veterinarian, Mostly Cats Veterinary Clinic, Loves Park, IL
1997-1998 Associate Veterinarian, Alpine Veterinary Clinic, Rockford, IL
1995-1996 Associate Veterinarian, Animal Emergency Hospital, Aston PA
Contact Information
Dr. Sarah Bushmeyer
Dogwood Pet Hospital 4102N. Mulford Road Loves Park, IL 6111
Bryan Cherry
State Public Health Veterinarian
New York State Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control
VMD: 1997 PhD: 2003
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Gary Smith
Graduate Group: Parasitology
Topic: Infection dynamics of Ichthyophthirius multifillis in zebrafish and catfish
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
B.S., Zoology, 1992
Dr. Cherry's main interest is control and prevention of zoonotic diseases. He directs statewide surveillance for communicable diseases occurring in the community setting, evaluates surveillance methods, and implements and evaluates education and prevention programs for communicable diseases.
Career Path
2008-present Director, Regional Epidemiology Program, New York State Department of Health
2002-2008 Deputy State Public Health Veterinarian, New York State Department of Health
2000-2002 City Public Health Veterinarian, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Contact Information
Dr. Bryan Cherry
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control Room 651 Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12237 518-473-4439 bxc05@health.state.ny.us
Michelle Cook Sanger
Head of Comparative Biology
Seattle Genetics
VMD: 2011 PhD: 2009
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Narayan Avadhani
Graduate Group: Pharmacology
Topic: Mechanism of cytochrome P450 2D6 bimodal targeting to mitochondria and microsomes, and metobalic activity
Undergraduate: Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Biology, 2002
Michelle is Head of Comparative Biology at Seattle Genetics. Before that, she was senior staff scientist and director of arthritis research within the Protein Therapeutic Drug Discovery Group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She explored a panel of cystine-dense peptides (CDPs) that accumulate in cartilage of joints throughout the body, and worked toward developing these CDPs as novel arthritis therapeutics. Her worked involved developing research plans, managing internal and external resources, and oversee ing the research team to execute preclinical research strategies She consulted other research programs in the protein therapeutics group to provide input on design of in vivo pharmacology studies and animal model development. She is interested in investigating the translatability of findings from preclinical rodent models to veterinary patients at an early stage of drug development by setting up collaborations with veterinary schools.
Career Path
2019-present Head of Comparative Biology, Seattle Genetics
2016- 2019 Director of Pharmacology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle , WA
2015-2016 Staff Scientist, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
2014-2019 Leadership Team Member, Protein Therapeutics Development Group
2011-2015 Postdoctoral Associate, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle , WA
Awards and Honors
- Phi Zeta Honor Society, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, 2004-2010.
- Dean’s List, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, 2002-2003; 2003-2004.
- Eberly College of Science Student Marshall, The Pennsylvania State University, 2002
- John White Fellowship, The Pennsylvania State University, 2002.
- Evan Pugh Scholars Award, The Pennsylvania State University, 2001, 2002.
- Herbert E. Longenecker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, The Pennsylvania State University, 2001.
- The President Sparks Award, The Pennsylvania State University, 2000.
- The President’s Freshman Award, The Pennsylvania State University, 1999.
- Howard Hughes Undergraduate Scholar, The Pennsylvania State University, 1998.
Contact Information
Seattle Genetics
Seattle, Washington Cook.chelle@gmail.com
LaTasha Crawford
Assistant Professor
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin - Madison
VMD: 2011 PhD: 2010
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Sheryl Beck
Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Topic: Electrophysiological and molecular characterization of changes in Dorsal Raphe-Prefrontal Cortex circuitry in a chronic social stress model of anxiety
Undergraduate: Yale University
B.S., Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, 2002
Treatment of chronic pain can be challenging, as existing therapies may cause unwanted side effects, lead to addiction, or prove inadequate for many pain patients. This unmet therapeutic need would benefit from improved diagnostics and the development of new therapies, both of which require a more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms underlying pain. Experimental mouse models have begun to provide insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms. However, much remains unknown about whether the cell-specific mechanisms identified in rodent models are relevant for other animal models or for human pain syndromes, producing a gap in our ability to translate lab findings into societal benefit. Our ultimate goal is to bridge that gap by identifying both universal and disease-specific mechanisms across animal models of pain and in human pain syndromes. Our lab combines behavioral and neurophysiology assays with a range of cutting-edge genetic techniques to explore cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie chronic pain. My background in veterinary pathology also help us to extrapolate mechanistic principles across species within the context of complex diseases. Our comparative studies investigate how molecular markers that define sensory neuron subsets vary across different species and in the face of naturally occurring disease. The pain mechanisms we highlight can help provide novel targets for disease-modifying agents and novel drugs that are apt to succeed in other species during preclinical and clinical trials. In addition, by understanding how these mechanisms relate to histopathologic and behavioral endpoints, we hope to identify quantifiable measures that can improve diagnostics for both veterinary and human patients and help guide patient-specific pain therapy.
Career Path
2018- present Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI
2015-2018 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Mentor: Dr. Michael J. Caterina, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2012-2015 Postdoctoral Fellowship, in Pathology, Mentors: Drs. David Ginty and Michael J. Caterina, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2011-2015 Anatomic Pathology Residency, Clinical Mentors: Kathleen L. Gabrielson DVM, PhD, Joseph L. Mankowski, DVM, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
-C. L. Davis Foundation Student Scholarship Award (2016)
-Pathology Post-Doctoral Fellowship, T-32 Training Grant, Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2012-2015)
Awards and Honors (continued)
-Institutional Nomination for Burroughs Welcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists, Johns Hopkins University (2015)
Contact Information
Dr. LaTasha Crawford
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
2015 Linden Drive, Madison WI 53703 LKCrawford@wisc.edu
Mary Anne Della Fera
Chief Scientific Officer and Co -Founder
AptoTec, Inc
VMD: 1979 PhD: 1980
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Clifton Baile
Graduate Group: Anatomy
Topic: Role of CNS cholecystokinin in hypothalamic control of food
Undergraduate: University of Delaware
B.A., Biology/Chemistry, 1974
Dr. Della Fera's primary area of interest is in regulation of energy balance of food intake. In recent years, she has focused on regulation of adipose tissue mass, and, in particular, the effects of natural compounds on adipogenesis, lipolysis, lipogenesis, and adipocyte apoptosis.
Career Path
2004-present Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, AptoTec, Inc.
2001-present Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia
1999-2001 Postdoctoral Scientist, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia
1998-present President, Biomedical Information Services
1992-1993 Coordinator for Clinical Research, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center, University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center
1991-1992 Resident in Behavioral Medicine and Human/Animal Interaction, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1990-1992 Research Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1989-1991 Resident in Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Med.
1989-1990 Research Investigator, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1987-1989 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia
1984-1986 Research Group Leader, Nutrition Chemicals Division, Monsanto Compnay
1982-1984 Research Specialist, Nutrition Chemicals Division, Monsanto Company
1982-1989 Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine
1981-1982 Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1980-1981 Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Contact Information
Dr. Mary Anne Della Fera
444 Rhodes Center University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 maradel@uga.edu
Lise Desquenne-Clark Staff
Scientist
The Wistar Institute
VMD: 1984 PhD: 1988
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Willys K. Silvers
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: Studies on neonatal transplantation tolerance: A role for MHC restriction
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania B.A., Molecular Biology
Career Path
1995-present Staff Scientist, The Wistar Institute
1989-1995 Postdoctoral Fellow, The Wistar Institute
Contact Information
Dr. Lise Desquenne-Clark
The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 lclark@wistar.org
Aimee Edinger Associate Professor
University of California, Irvine
VMD: 1996 PhD: 1999
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Robert Doms
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: HIV/SIV entry
Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
B.S., Animal Physiology, 1992
A resurgence of interest in cancer cell metabolism has led to the discovery that many oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes transform cells by altering cellular bioenergetics. While essential for oncogenesis, this metabolic reprogramming makes cancer cells exquisitely dependent upon a high rate of nutrient flux. This is a potential Achilles’ heel constitutively-active oncogenes and the deletion of tumor suppressor genes prevent tumor cells from reducing biosynthesis and increasing catabolic reactions. Thus, cancer cells die when deprived of nutrients while normal cells become quiescent. My laboratory is taking a unique approach to fighting cancer by developing therapies that selectively starve cancer cells to death by down- regulating nutrient transporter proteins. Our goal is to uncover the pathways that coordinately regulate mammalian nutrient transporter internalization and trafficking. The "tumor suppressor lipid" ceramide is generated in response to almost all stresses encountered by cells. Ceramide can induce cell cycle arrest, differentiation, senescence and death. Moreover, many chemotherapeutics kill tumor cells by increasing ceramide levels. How ceramide limits cell growth and survival, however, has remained unclear. My lab has established that ceramide induces severe bioenergetic stress secondary to nutrient transporter down-regulation. This model may explain why ceramide is more toxic to cancer cells than normal cells, how ceramide contributes to type 2 diabetes, and how ceramide regulates cellular aging. While it limits tumor cell growth and survival, ceramide has poor drug properties: it is extremely hydrophobic complicating delivery and is rapidly metabolized. To overcome these problems, my lab has developed water soluble and orally bioavailable sphingolipid-inspired small molecules through a collaboration with Dr. Stephen Hanessian's synthetic and medicinal chemistry group. These compounds inhibit tumor growth in prostate and colon cancer models with minimal toxi city to normal cells. We are focused on pre-clinical evaluation of these compounds and their molecular mechanism of action.
Career Path
2004-present Associate Professor, Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine
2005-2012 Assistant Professor, University of California, Irvine
1999-2004 Postdoc, University of Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-UCI School of Biological Sciences Golden Apple Teaching Award (2014)
-Chancellor’s Award for Execellence in Undergraduate Research (2009)
-Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship (2000-2003)
Contact Information
Dr. Aimee Edinger
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology aedinger@uci.edu
Samra Elser
Associate Veterinarian
King of Prussia Veterinary Hospital
VMD: 2017 PhD: 2015
Thesis Mentor: Dr. James Hoxie
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Topic: In vitro and in vivo functions of a Tyr-based trafficking signal in the SIV envelope glycoprotein cytoplasmic tail
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2008
Career Path
2017- present Associate Veterinarian, King of Prussia Veterinary Hospital, PA
Contact Information
Dr. Samra Elser
King of Prussia Veterinary Hospital 122E. Beidler Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406 samraelser@gmail.com
Rebecca Evans Veterinarian
West Chester Medical Center
VMD: 2017 PhD: 2015
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Bob Vonderheide
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Cancer Biology
Topic: Defective T cell immunosurveillance in a genetically-engineered mouse model of pancreatic cancer
Undergraduate: Middlebury College
B.A., English, 2006
Contact Information
Dr. Rebecca Evans
West Chester Veterinary Medical Center
1141 West Chester Pike
West Chester, PA 19382
610-696-8712
George Farnbach
Senior Java Web Developer
Independence Blue Cross
VMD: 1974 PhD: 1977
Thesis Mentor: Drs. R.E. Davies and R.L. Barchi
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Measurement of passive electrical properties of muscle: Techniques and application
Undergraduate: Princeton University
A.B., Russian, 1970
Career Path
1998-present Senior Java Web Developer, Independence Blue Cross
Duncan Ferguson
Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pharmacology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
VMD: 1979 PhD: 1982
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Robert Utiger and Anthony S. Jennings
Graduate Group: Pharmacology
Topic: Thyroid hormone metabolism in the isolated perfused rat kidney
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
A.B., Chemistry, 1975
When not travelling “while we can” with my wife Dr. Margarethe Hoenig, we are enjoying our 3 grandchildren (2 in Chicago area (ages 1 and 3.5 yrs) and 1 in Phoenix (age 1.5 yrs), and enjoying hearing about my daughters’ careers, the eldest working as a marketing M.B.A. at the American Medical Association in Chicago and our youngest daughter as an Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, AZ. We enjoy hiking and wildlife travels, and I continue to work on my German fluency and classical guitar skills. Upon retirement, I have remained active remotely participating with University of Illinois collaborators on an NSF grant exploring strategies for encouraging critical thinking in students, including veterinary. Frustrated with having seen educational “reinvention of wheels” for over 40 years in our profession, upon university retirement, I also co-founded a non-profit called VetMedAcademy (https://vetmedacademy.org) devoted to the creation, curation, and sharing of quality open-source (Creative Commons Attribution) educational materials amongst veterinary and animal health students and faculty worldwide. Anyone with an interest in contributing expertise or support to this mission, please contact me at duncanf@vetmedacademy.org.
Career Path
2016-present Co-Founder, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, non-profit organization VetMedAcademy.org, Seminole FL and Bogart GA
2016-present Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
2013/14/16 Visiting Professor, Tieraerztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany
2016 Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Dept. of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
2006-2015 Head of Department and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Dept. of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
2007-2013 Program Supervisor, American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology; approved residency in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign
2004-2006 Director, Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program (DVM/PhD), University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine 1999-2003 Coordinator of the Georgia On-Line Interactive Veterinary Education (GO-LIVE), University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
1997-1999 Vice President, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.
1994 Visiting Professor (sabbatical), Auburn University
1994-2006 Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology and of Small Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
1991-1999 Director of Continual Education, Veterinary Information Network, Inc. 1991-1996 CoFounder and President, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.
Career Path (continued)
1989-1994 Associate Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology and of Small Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
1986-1989 Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology and of Small Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
1983-1986 Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
1981-1983 Resident in Small Animal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Awards and Honors
-National Science Foundation grant: Co-PI with W Cope, C Zhai, and W. Els; Assessing ‘Complex Epistemic Performance’ in Online Environments. (2016-2018)
-Retired from The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine as Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pharmacology (2016)
-Morris Animal Foundation: Small Animal Scientific Advisory Board Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
-American Animal Hospital Special Recognition Award: “For contributions and advancement of electronic on-line communications in veterinary profession” (1995)
Contact Information
Dr. Duncan Ferguson College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Comparative Biosciences
2001 South Lincoln Ave
3516 Vet Med Basic Sciences Bldg. Urbana IL 61802 dcf@illinois.edu
Alan Fine Director, Neuroscience Institute
Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine
VMD: 1979 PhD: 1987
Thesis Mentor: Dr. S.D. Erulkar
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Cortical acetylcholine
Undergraduate: Harvard University
A.B., Philosophy/Biology, 1974
Dr. Alan Fine studies how the brain processes and stores information, at the molecular, cellular and network levels. He has developed expertise in the study of signaling and plasticity at the level of the synapse. Dr. Fine is also interested in the development and application of advanced imaging methods for neuroscience. He uses advanced optical methods including fluorescent ion and voltage indicators in conjunction with multiphoton, confocal- and fast CCD-imaging to investigate neurotransmission at individual synapses in brain tissue. He has also developed a lens-less and extremely portable microscopy system with applications in laboratory, industrial and clinical settings.
Career Path
2011-present University Research Professor, Dalhousie University
2010-present President Alentic Microscience
2008-2013 Director, Neuroscience Institute, Dalhousie University
2005-present Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University
2003-present Honorary Reader, Department of Physiology, University College London
2001-present Group Leader and Permanent Scientific Staff, National Institute for Medical Research, London
1999-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics, Emory University
1997-present Member, Scientific Staff, National Institute for Medical Research, London
1995-present Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University
1994-1997 Visiting Scientist, National Institute for Medical Research, London
1990-1995 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University
1990-1995 Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine (Neurology), Dalhousie University
1989-1995 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University
1987-1989 Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University
1984-1987 Pinsent-Darwin Student of Mental Pathology, University of Cambridge
1983-1987 Visiting Fellow, Neurochemical Pharmacology and Molecular Neurobiology Units, Medical Research Council Centre, Cambridge
1982-1983 Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurobiology Department, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel
1981-1982 Staff Fellow, Adult Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health
Contact Information
Dr. Alan Fine
Dalhousie University, Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building 5850 College Street, P.O. Box 15000 Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2 Canada a.fine@dal.ca
Marnie FitzMaurice
Lecturer and Director of Veterinary Curriculum College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University
VMD: 1996 PhD: 2002
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Larry Palmer and Alan Rosenquist
Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Topic: Role of the superior colliculus in visual detection
Undergraduate: Yale University
B.A., Biology, 1992
Dr. FitzMaurice is the Veterinary Curriculum Director for the College of Veterinary Medicine and a Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. As Veterinary Curriculum Director, she works with faculty, staff and students to coordinate and improve the veterinary curriculum. Her teaching interests include active learning, assessment of learning, and educational technology.
Career Path
2005-present Lecturer and Director of Veterinary Curriculum, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
2005-present Course Leader, Lecturer, and Instructor College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
2006-2008 Consultant, Clinical Private Practice, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
2001-2005 Medical Director, VCA Cat Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
1997-2001 Associate Veterinarian, VCA Cat Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
1996-2005 Lecturer and Teaching Assistant in Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Awards and Honors
-SCAVMA Teaching Excellence in Basic Science Award, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine (2015)
Contact Information
Dr. Marnie Fitzmaurice Cryer
111 Harvey Hill Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-342-1967 mcf32@cornell.edu
Bruce Freedman
Associate Professor of Pathobiology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1987 PhD: 1992
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Carol Deutsch
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Expression and function of Kv channels during T cell differentiation
Undergraduate: Dickinson College
B.S., Biology, 1980
Dr. Freedman’s research interests include signal transduction mechanisms in immune cells. The general focus of the Freedman laboratory is physiological processes that regulate lymphocyte and macrophage development and function. We are specifically interested in pathways that regulate calcium signaling in T and B cells and the mechanisms by which diverse and complex inputs (antigen and coactivating and inhibitory stimuli) are encoded as functionally specific Ca2+ signals and translated into appropriate biological responses that regulate lymphocyte development and differentiation. We are also interested in the viral and cellular determinants of viral tropism and pathogenesis. We have focused on the signal transduction pathways activated in human macrophages and T cells by HIV-1 envelope protein (gp120) upon interaction with CD4 and chemokine receptors. Our goal is to understand the functional consequences of signaling on virus entry, post-entry steps of viral replication, and the consequences on target cell functions apart from infection.
2005-present Associate Professor (tenure track), University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2000-2005 Assistant Professor (tenure track), University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1997-2000 Assistant Professor (research track), University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1993-1997 Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
1992-1993 Research Fellow, NCI Training Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
1991-1992 Associate Veterinarian, Ivens Veterinary Hospital, Haverford, PA
1990 Associate Veterinarian, The Cat Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
1987-1989 Associate Veterinarian, Hatboro Animal Hospital, Hatboro, PA
Contact Information
Dr. Bruce Freedman
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania bruce@vet.upenn.edu
Hannah Galantino-Homer
Senior Research Investigator
Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1993 PhD: 2000
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Bayard Storey
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Using molecular genetic techniques to investigate a putative muscarinic receptor homologue in mouse sperm that may be involved in sperm-egg binding and/or the acrosome reaction
Undergraduate: Swarthmore College
B.A., Biology/English Literature, 1989
Dr. Galantino-Homer founded the Laminitis Laboratory at New Bolton Center in 2008. The Laminitis Laboratory was formed in part due to the tragic loss of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, to laminitis in January, 2007. Our goal is to employ cell and molecular biology methods to better understand laminitis pathogenesis in order to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. Our studies include the investigation of laminitis pathogenesis using protein biochemistry, gene expression, and histological analysis, identification of diagnostic serum biomarkers for laminitis, characterization of the keratin proteins that determine the mechanical properties of the hoof l amellae and the effect of laminitis on keratins and associated cell adhesion proteins, the impact of cell stress pathways on laminitis, characterization of the epidermal stem cell population in the lamellae, and establishing an in vitro culture system for equine hoof epidermal cells to minimize the use of live horses for laminitis research.
Career Path
2007-present Senior Research Investigator, Laminitis Research, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2005-2007 Lecturer in Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2001-2005 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Awards and Honors
-Trainee Merit Award, American Society of Andrology (2005)
-Bayard T. Storey Award for Excellence in Research, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, University of Pennsylvania (2006)
Contact Information
Dr. Hannah Galantino-Homer
Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania
382 West Street Road Kennett Square, PA 19348-1692 hghomer@vet.upenn.edu
Brittany Gregory Veterinarian
Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2013
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Vivian Cheung
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Genetics and Gene Regulation
Topic: Natural variation in the histone demethylase KDM4C, influences cell proliferation through the regulation of specific genes
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
B.S., Microbiology, 2006
Career Path
2016-present Senior Clinician, Emergency Medicine, Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware-Blue Pearl, DE
2015-2016 Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, CO
Contact Information
Dr. Brittany Gregory
VSCD New Castle
290 Churchmans Road New Castle, DE 19720
Joan C. Hendricks
Former Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of
Pennsylvania
VMD: 1980 PhD: 1980
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Adrian Morrison
Graduate Group: Anatomy
Topic: Studies of the effects of small pontine lesions producing paradoxical sleep without atonia in freely behaving cats
Undergraduate: Yale University
B.S., Biology/Psychology, 1974
Dean Hendricks believes that veterinarians play an integral part in ensuring public health and food safety, guarding against bio- and agro-terrorism and working to protect the environment. She has played a lead role in lobbying to state legislators on behalf of the School. This broad view of the impact of veterinarians in society is encompassed by the One Health Initiative.
Before taking on the role as Dean, Dr. Hendricks served as a faculty member for Penn Vet for more than 20 years. In her role as a faculty member, Dean Hendricks became the first woman to hold an endowed professorship at the School when she was named the Henry and Corinne R. Bower Professor of Small Animal Medicine in 2001. She has also served as chief of critical care in the Department of Clinical S tudies at Philadelphia and is founding director of the Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center (VCIC). Dean Hendricks held a secondary appointment as professor in the Department of Medicine at Penn’s School of Medicine and has served in a leadership position in the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA).
Dean Hendricks’ work has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and the Journal of Applied Physiology, and she is frequently invited to lecture at major conferences around the world. During a sabbatical year, she investigated how molecular biology could be applied to neuroscience, specifically to the field of sleep and sleep disorders, in which Dean Hendricks is a recognized expert. She has studied bulldogs extensively and published pioneering studies on the molecular biology of sleep in fruit flies in the high -impact journals Nature Neuroscience and Neuron.
Career Path
2006-2018 Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2005 Founding Director, Veterinary Clinical Research Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2003-2005 Associate Chair for Research, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2002-2003 Interim Chair, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1998-2018 Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1997-2018 Professor, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1997-2005 Chief, Section of Critical Care, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1993-1996 Vice Chairman, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Career Path (continued)
1990-2005 Co-Director, Center for Veterinary Clinical Care, School of Veterinary Medicine , University of Pennsylvania
1990-1997 Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1990-1993 Director, Intensive Care Unit, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1990-1992 Chairman, Committee on Residency and Postdoctoral Training, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1990-1992 Acting Director, Emergency Services, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1990 Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
1988-1989 Acting Director of Nursing, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1988-1989 Chairman, Subcommittee on Nursing, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1983-1990 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1983-1985 Chairman, Committee on Residency and Postdoctoral Training, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1981-1983 Resident in Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1980-1983 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-For accomplishments as Dean of PennVet, see the Bio dedicated to Dean Hendricks, VMD- PhD Alumnus
-Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian of the Year (2008)
-Association for Women Veterinarians Distinguished Service Award (2005)
-Member, John Morgan Society (2004-)
-Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award (for Life time Service to the Veterinary Profession) (2003)
-Member, Training Grant Initial Review Group, National Institutes of Health (2002-2005)
-Henry and Corinne R. Bower Chair for Small Animal Medicine (2000)
-Ad hoc Reviewer, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (1994, 1995)
-February Employee of the Month Award, Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1992)
-Beecham Award for Research Excellence (1990)
-Veterinary Student Government Award for Excellence in Teaching Nominee (1987, 1988, 1990)
-Veterinary Student Government Award for Excellence in Teaching (1987)
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society, President (1986-1989)
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (1979) -Sigma Xi (1974)
Contact Information
Dean Joan Hendricks jch@vet.upenn.edu
Alice Hsu Veterinarian
Blackhorse Veterinary Clinic
VMD: 2009 PhD: 2008
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Phillip Scott
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: T cell response to parasitic infections
Undergraduate: Princeton University
A.B., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2000
Richard Jimenez
Rotating Intern, Small Animal VCA Animal Hospital
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2016
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Richard Schultz
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Genetics and Gene Regulation
Topic: Mechanisms of translational control in early embryonic development
Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2007
Career Path
2018-present Lecturer in Genetics, Cal State University San Marcos 2016-2017 Rotating Intern, Small Animal, VCA Animal Hospital
Awards and Honors
-Third prize of the SSR 2012 Trainee Research Award Poster Competition
Contact Information
Richard Jimenez, VMD, PhD Cal State University, San Marcos 760-750-4103 rijimenez@csusm.edu
Douglas Jones Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
VMD: 1989 PhD: 1993
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Charles Bevins
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Defensin expression in the human small intestine, a study of the human defensin family
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
B.S., Biology, 1980
Dr. Jones’ laboratory focuses on understanding the host-pathogen relationship of Leishmania amazonensis infection. This intracellular protozoal pathogen is notorious for establishing a chronic infection with high parasite load in both humans and experimentally infected mice. Dr. Jones studies how the host immune response tolerates high parasite load and how the immune responses can be manipulated to resolve infection. Studies focus on how antibodies can limit infection in order to design immunotherapeutic strategies that may be applicable to other intracellular pathogens. We also collaborate with mathematicians to develop mathematical models of immunity. These models illustrate how persistent antigen is central for shaping the immune response over time. We have used this information to propose a novel method of vaccination that will maintain long-term effective immunity. We propose to design a vaccine implant that releases the vaccine only when the immune response wanes. We propose this vaccine machine, responsive to the immune status of the animal, will be able to maintain high levels of effective immunity for many years .
Career Path
2013-present Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
2005-2013 Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
2005-2008 Chair, Interdepartmental Immunobiology Program, Iowa State University
1999-2005 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
1996-1999 Lecturer, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1995-1996 Infectious Disease Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
1994-1995 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1993-1994 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
1989-1994 Co-Owner, Anmuth Veterinary Clinic
Awards and Honors
-Coinventor, Patent 5,641,497: Gastrointestinal defensins, cDNA sequences and method for the production and use thereof (1997)
Contact Information
Dr. Douglas Jones
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
2750 Veterinary Pathology Ames, IA 50011 jonesdou@iastate.edu
2014-2017 Principal Research Scientist, Centyrex and Biologics Research, Janssen R&D
2011-2014 Senior Research Scientist, Centocor and Centyrex, Janssen R&D
2008-2010 Research Scientist, Centocor, Janssen R&D
Contact Information
Dr. Colleen Kane Ckane12@its.jnj.com
James Kehler Founder
One Health Scientific LLC
VMD: 2002 PhD: 2004
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Hans Scholer
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology - Genetics and Gene Regulation
Topic: Investigating the role of Oct4, a transcription factor, during germline development of the mouse
Undergraduate: Hampshire College
B.A., Animal Nutrition, 1993
Dr. Kehler recently incorporated his multiple consultancy activities into One Health Scientific, LLC. His organization helps start-up companies translate their discoveries into products and services, prepare patents, apply for grants and government contracts, secure licensing agreements and investors. He is also still working as a visiting scientist at NIH on comparative animal models, and recently developed a CRISPR cat model He communicates with faculty at Penn and is advocating for and advancing feline models of human disease.
Career Path
2018-present Founder, One Health Scientific LLC, Rockville MD
2014-present Special Volunteer, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, National Institute of Health
2015-2015 Director of Scientific Programs and Alliances, The New York Stem Cell Foundation
2014-2014 Chief Scientific Officer, Veterinary Biosciences Institute
2013-2014 Vice President of Global Business Development, Veterinary Bioscience Institute
2012-2013 Director of Global Services, Stemgent
2010-2012 Director of Scientific Development, Veterinary Biosciences Institute
2008-2011 Special Volunteer, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stoke, National Institute of Health
2009-2010 Research Associate, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2005-2010 Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia
2004-2008 Lecturer, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2004-2007 Special Volunteer, Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Awards and Honors
-SERCA Training Award, NCRR, NIH (2004-2009)
Contact Information
James Kehler VMD, PhD
One Health Scientific LLC
12111 Parklawn Drive, Lab 229
Rockville, MD 20852
Cell: 301-633-7666
James.kehler@me.com
Robert Kieval President
Diligence Matters, LLC
VMD: 1987 PhD: 1991
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Joseph Spear
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Electrical cell coupling in post-ischemic, arrhythmia-prone myocardium
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Natural Science, 1982
Dr. Kieval has devoted his career to innovation in health care. He first spent seven years at Medtronic in a corporate venture establishing new markets for sophisticated medical technology, ultimately se rving as Medical Director of the Heart Failure Management Division that commercialized cardiac resynchronization therapies and implantable arrhythmia monitors. Rob was then a co-founder in ProtoStar, an incubator with a mission to identify transformational opportunities in health care. CVRx was founded around a platform neuromodulation therapy he conceived. Rob spun CVRx out of ProtoStar as its founding CEO and later served as Chief Development Officer, raising $60M in venture capital while CEO, being named an Innovator of the Year by Twin Cities Finance & Commerce and recognized as one of Minnesota’s Top Inventors by Twin Cities Business. Rob is now President of Diligence Matters, LLC, an organization that serves the life sciences community with due diligence services for decision support on technology investment and acquisition opportunities, cross-functional strategic consulting, as well as hands-on operating leadership where needed. Rob has served on the Board of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association for 10 years, has served on the Board of The Medical Alley Association of Minnesota for the past 7 years (including 2 years as Chairman) and has testified before Congress in support of the industry. Rob’s other current Board roles include The Center for Large Landscape Conservation in Bozeman, MT, where he currently serves as Board President. He served on the Board of CVRx from 2001-2016.
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (2007-present)
1999-2001: Business Development Director, ProtoStar, Inc.
1992-1999: Medical Director (and other positions), Medtronic, Inc.
1991-1992: Faculty Research Associate, University of Maryland
Awards and Honors
-Holder of 24 US Patents
-Minnesota’s Top Inventors (2012)
-Minnesota Finance and Commerce Innovator of the Year (2006)
Contact Information
Dr. Robert Kieval
Diligence Matters LLC
Minneapolis, MN
rob@diligencematters.com
Catrina King
Head Veterinarian & Veterinary Services Director
The George Washington University
VMD: 2012 PhD: 2011
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Anil Rustgi
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Cell Growth and Cancer
Topic: Lin28B, let-7, and the molecular pathogenesis of colon cancer.
Undergraduate: The Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Animal Science, 2002
Career Path
2017- present Head Veterinarian and Veterinary Services Director, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
2015-2017 Senior Manager of Research Animal Facility and Veterinary Services at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2012-2015 Clinical Veterinarian, Columbia University
Awards and Honors
-American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM)
Contact Information
Dr. Catrina King
The George Washington University Office of the Vice President for Research 2121 I St NW Washington, DC 20052 drcatrinaking@gwu.edu
Meghan Noelle Knight
Associate Veterinarian
PetPT
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2017
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Jaimo Ahn, Kurt Hankenson and Sarah Millar
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology
Topic: R-Spondin-2 modulates Wnt signaling to increase bone mass
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College A.B., Biology, 2008
Career Path
2017- present Associate Veterinarian PetPT, Cherry Hill, NJ
Contact Information
Dr. Noelle Knight PetPT
1886 Greentree Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 m.noelle.knight@gmail.com
Joyce Knoll
Dean, ad interim and the Henry and Lois
Foster Professor
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Tufts University
VMD: 1984 PhD: 1987
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Leon Weiss
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: A mouse model for alpha thalassemia: A characterization using electron microscopy, autoradiography, and iron kinetics
Undergraduate: Franklin & Marshall College
B.A., Biology, 1977
I am interested in veterinary hematology, cytology and clinical endocrinology. Previous investigations focused on clinical application and validation of diagnostic tests and/or instrumentation for use with veterinary specimens. I played a role in validation of an ACTH assay for diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism in horses and ponies. I have also evaluated several automated hematology instruments and some automated hormone assays using a chemiluminescent based system. More recently I have been focused on development of innovative teaching techniques.
Career Path
2018-present? Dean ad interim and Professor, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
2016-2018 Chair of the Department of Biomedical Science, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
2001-2018 Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
2001-2018 Clinical Pathology Section Head and Director of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
2000-2001 Eastern Regional Head of Clinical Pathology, IDEXX Veterinary Services, Grafton, MA
1992-2014 Veterinarian, Rau Animal Hospital, Glenside PA
Contact Information
Dr. Debra Kotloff kotloff@comcast.net
David Kowalczyk
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Monsanto Company
VMD: 1975 PhD: 1976
Thesis Mentor: Dr. C.P. Bianchi
Graduate Group: Pharmacology
Topic: The effect of Pb on K flux in frog sartorius muscle
Undergraduate: Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Biochemistry, 1970
Career Path
1991-present Director, Regulatory Affairs, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO
1985-1991 Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO
1978-1985 Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1976-1978 Postdoctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Contact Information
Dr. David Kowalczyk
Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63167
314-694-5348
Dara Kraitchman
Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
VMD: 1992 PhD: 1996
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Leon Axel
Graduate Group: Bioengineering
Topic: Integrated magnetic resonance imaging studies of cardiac function and perfusion
Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
B.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, 1984
Dr. Kraitchman's Laboratory focuses on non-invasive imaging and minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular disease. Our laboratory is actively involved in developing new methods to image myocardial function and perfusion using MRI. Current research interests are aimed at determining the optimal timing and method of the administration of mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate infarcted myocardium using noninvasive MR fluoroscopic delivery and imaging. MRI and radiolabeling techniques include novel MR and radiotracer stem cell labeling methods to determine the location, quantity and biodistribution of stem cells after delivery as well as to noninvasively determine the efficacy of these therapies in acute myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease. Our other research focuses on the development of new animal models of human disease for noninvasive imaging studies and the development of promising new therapies in clinical trials for companion animals.
Career Path
2014-present Director, Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
2012-present Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2011-present Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2006-present Associate Director, Imaging Core, Institute of Cellular Engineering
2006-present Affiliated Faculty, Institute for Computational Medicine
2005-present Affiliated Faculty, Institute for Nanobiotechnology
2004-present Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1998-2004 Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1996-1998 Research Associate/Instructor, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Awards and Honors
-Fellow, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2015)
-Distinguished Investigator, Academy of Radiology Research (2012)
-Fellow, American College of Cardiology (2008)
-Society of Magnetic Resonance, Third Place, Best Oral Abstract Presentation (2003)
-Society of Computed Body Tomography and MR Contrast Award (2000)
Contact Information
Dr. Dara Kraitchman
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
dkraitc1@jhmi.edu
Erika Lin-Hendel
Staff Scientist, Agricultural Research and Global Food Animal Production
Biomin America Inc.
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2016
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Jeffrey Golden and Stewart Anderson
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Developmental Biology
Topic: Control of mitochondrial trafficking in neurons
Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
B.A., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2006
Career Path
2015- present Staff Scientist Agricultural Research and Global Food Animal Production Biomin
Contact Information
Dr. Erika Lin-Hendel
Biomin America Inc
10801 Mastin Boulevard Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66210 ehendel77@gmail.com
Leslie MacGregor-Levine Patient Advocate for Neuropathy Patients
VMD: 1981 PhD: 1986
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Franz Matschinsky
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Biochemical and electrophysical abnormalities in retinas of diabetic animals
Undergraduate: Princeton University
A.B., Biology, 1979
Dr. MacGregor-Levine also earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Her former positions include Biomedical Patent Atterny at Biogen, Perkin Elmer and other companies. She then went to work as the Director of Intellectual Property at Harvard and Harvard Medical School. While working at Harvard she suffered acute medical issues which lead her to be a patient advocate. She founded the Metro West Boston Neuropathy Support Group in the Boston area, and provides counsel to and shares resources with patients from many regions of the country. She works with patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a patient representative on an advisory panel for prioritizing medical conditions for research funding at the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Dr. Levine is a PCORI merit reviewer of grant applications, a PCORI Ambassador and is on the board of the Neuropathy Action Foundation.
Contact Information
Dr. Leslie MacGregor-Levine
617-429-7809
Katherine (Masek) Hammerman
Associate Research Fellow/Veterinary Pathologist
Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development
VMD: 2002 PhD: 2006
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Christopher Hunter
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Innate immunity to Toxoplasma gondii
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
B.S., Biology, 1998
Dr. (Masek) Hammerman is an anatomic veterinary pathologist working in the pharmaceutical industry with a research background in immunology, particularly inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Her areas of emphasis are investigative and toxicologic pathology. She uses standard and molecular pathology techniques (HE, IHC, ISH, etc) to conduct exploratory and GLP preclinical safety assessments for drugs in development for various human disease indications. In addition, Dr. (Masek) Hammerman works closely with Pfizer’s research units, particularly the inflammation groups, to evaluate animal models of disease and to develop tissue-based biomarkers for animal models and human clinical trials. Her additional role as drug safety team leader lets her work with highly skilled, multi-disciplinary teams to advance drugs through phase 3 of development.
Career Path
2017-present Associate Research Fellow/Veterinary Pathologist, Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development, Cambridge MA
2013-2017 Senior Principal Scientist/ Veterinary Pathologist, Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development, Cambridge MA
2010-2013 Principal Scientist/ Veterinary Pathologist, Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development, Cambridge MA
2006-2010 Postdoctoral Fellow/Resident, Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, New England Primate Research Center, Harvard University
Awards and Honors
-Pfizer Worldwide Research – Large team award (2018)
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude , University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine ( 2002)
Contact Information
Dr. Katherine (Masek) Hammerman Pfizer
Cambridge, MA
Ksmksm2@gmail.com
Amy Matthews Veterinarian
All Creatures Holistic Health
VMD: 2001 PhD: 2001
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Yvonne Paterson
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: The role of B lymphocytes in murine hepatitis (strain A59) clearance and pathology
Undergraduate: Williams College B.A., Biology/Asian Studies, 1993
Contact Information
Dr. Amy Matthews Clinic@AllCreaturesHolisticHealth.com 860-888-7796
James MacLeod Professor of Veterinary Science
John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight Chair
Director, Equine Initiative University of Kentucky
VMD: 1984 PhD: 1990
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Bernard Shapiro
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: Hormonal regulation of hepatic P450 monooxygenases
Undergraduate: University of Delaware
B.S., Animal Science, 1980
Dr. MacLeod's laboratory studies biological and biomedical aspects of the equine musculoskeletal system, with an emphasis on growth and maturation of articular cartilage, development and progression of osteoarthritis, and t he repair of articular lesions. Experiments are conducted primarily on a cellular and molecular level. Additional projects focus on structural and functional annotation of the equine genome, development of computational methods for the analysis of RNA-seq data, and equine cervical stenotic myelopathy.
Career Path
2016-present Director, Equine Sports Science Initiative, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky
2008-present Director, Equine Initiative, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky
2007-present Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
2003-present Professor of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky
2003-present John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight Chair, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky
2003-present Adjunct Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
1999-2003 Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics, James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
1992-1999 Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics, James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
1988-1992 Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Awards and Honors
-Prestigious Research Paper Award (co-recipient) College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky (2009)
Dr. McManus retired from her positionat IDEXX Reference Laboratories in 20 15. She spends her time traveling with her husband, fellow VMD-PhD alumnus, Dr. Richard Miselis.
2005-2007 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and Cytopathology (VDIC), Clackamas, OR
2005 Clinical Pathology, Ross University, St. Kitts
2001-2005 Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology, Clinician Educator, Chief of Clinical Pathology Service, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1995-2001 Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology, Clinician Educator; Chief of Clinical Pathology Service, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1993-1995 Clinical Pathologist, Veterinary Research Associates, Farmingdale, NY
1989-1991 Chairperson, Allied Health and Sciences Division, Manor Junir College
1986-1991 Director and Education Coordinator of Veterinary Technology, Manor Junior College
1989-1990 Adjunct Clinical Pathology Instructor, Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture
1985-1988 Associate Veterinarian, Lansdowne Animal Hospital, Lansdowne, PA
1980-1981 Histology Instructor, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1975-1976 Biology Instructor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 1974 General Science Teacher, 8th Grade, Brainerd Middle School, Cherry Hill, NJ
Awards and Honors
-Distinguished Service to the Program of Veterinary Technology, Manor Junior College (1986-1991)
-Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association Award (1980)
-Dean's List, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1976-1980)
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (1979)
-EVSCO Prize, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School (1978)
-Academic Distinction, University of Pennsylvania (1974)
Contact Information
Dr. Patricia McManus
vetpathpat@yahoo.com
Albee Messing
Professor Emeritus and Director of the Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin, Madison
VMD: 1978 PhD: 1982
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Seung Kim
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: Alpha-bungarotoxin receptors of cultured chick ciliary ganglion neurons
Undergraduate: Yale University
B.S., Biology, 1974
Research in my laboratory is directed at understanding developmental and pathologic aspects of glial cell biology in the nervous system of the mouse, with a particular focus on astrocytes and their major intermediate filament protein, GFAP. Our main strategies involve genetic manipulation of glial gene expression using transgenic techniques, and gene targeting in embryonic stem cells, to generate mutant strains of mice. Current projects address a variety of topics such as regulation of gene expression, the role of GFAP mutations and accumulation in the pathogenesis of Alexander disease. A major effort is devoted to devising novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of this disorder, and identifying biomarkers to permit monitoring severity or progression of the disease. disease.
Career Path
2018-present Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2015-2018 Director, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2014-2015 Interim Director, Waisman Center, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
2013 Adjunct Scientist, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Mashfield, WI
2002-2004
Associate Director for Biological Sciences, Waisman Center, Univ. of Wisonsin, Madison
1996-2018 Professor of Neuropathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of WisconsinMadison,
1986-2018 Affiliate Member, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of WisconsinMadison
2002-2004 Associate Director for Biological Sciences, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1993 Visiting Scientist, Department of Molecular Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas
1990-1996 Associate Professor of Neuropathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1985-1990 Assistant Professor of Neuropathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1984 Grass Foundation Fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1981-1982 Resident in Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1980-1984 Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, University Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-Parisi Lecture, American Association of Neuropathologists (2013)
-Santiago Ramon y Cajal Lecture, Spanish Neurological Society (2010)
-Peter Lampert Memorial Lecture, University of California, San Diego (2003)
-Weil Award, American Association of Neuro pathologists (2001)
Awards and Honors (continued)
-Moore Award, American Association of Neuropathologists (2000)
-Weil Award, American Association of Neuropathologists (1989)
-Shaw Scholar (1986-1991)
-Teacher-Investigator Development Award, NINDS (1985-1990)
-VMD, Summa Cum Laude, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (1978)
Contact Information
Dr. Albee Messing
Waisman Center & Department of Comparative Biosciences University of Wisconsin-Madison 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 amessing@wisc.edu
Natalie Miller Veterinary Medical Officer
Federal Department of Agriculture
VMD: 2013 PhD: 2012
Thesis Mentor: Dr. David Roos
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Topic: Population genetics of T. gondii
Undergraduate: University of Delaware
B.S., Animal Science, 2002
Natalie works at the FDA Division of Cardiovascular Devices as a veterinary medical officer. She primarily reviews animal studies for firms that are developing new cardiovascular devices for humans.
Career Path
2015- present Veterinary Medical Officer, Animal Studies Reviewer, FDA, Sliver Spring, MD 2013-2015 Small Animal Veterinarian, Graylyn Crest, Philadelphia, PA 2013-2015 Export Manager, LI Animal Health
Contact Information
Dr. Natalie Miller
U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Ave Sliver Spring, MD 20993 nataliemillervmd@gmail.com
Richard Miselis
Retired Professor of Animal Biology
Head, Laboratories of Anatomy School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1973 PhD: 1973
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Alan Epstein
Graduate Group: Biology
Topic: The glucoprivic control of ingestive behavior
Undergraduate: Tufts University
B.S., Biology, 1967
The Miselis laboratory studied the neurobiology of visceral function and ingestive behavior. He was particularly concerned with the neuroanatomical identification and functional evaluation of neural circuits involved in mediating behavioral and physiological control of homeostatic processes. His research involved 1) use of neurotropic viruses as transsynaptic tract tracing tools to study the visceral neuraxis of the brain, 2) cellular topography of viral transsynaptic movement, 3) electron microscopy of synaptic relations in the vagal complex of the medulla, 4) the visceral afferent and efferent projections of abdominal and thoracic viscera, 5) the circumventricular organs as sites of central receptors and their neural projections, 6)hypothalamic modulation of the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary gland, and its effect on behavior.
Career Path
1997-2011 Head, Laboratories of Anatomy, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1989-2011 Professor of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1991-1992 Sabbatical Leave, Laboratory of Virology/Molecular Biology, DuPont-Merck
1984-1994 Director, VMD/PhD Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1983-1984 Sabbatical Leave, Senior International Fogarty Fellowship, Fogarty International Center, Howard Florey Institute, Melbourne, Australia
1981-1989 Associate Professor of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1975-1981 Assistant Professor of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1973-1975 Fellow, College de France, Laboratorie de Neurophysiologie Sensorielle et Comportementale
Awards and Honors
-Dean's Award for Leadership in Basic Science Education, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1999)
-Fogarty Senior International Fellowship (1983-1984)
-Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship for Basic Research in Neuroscience (1978-1980)
Contact Information
Dr. Richard Miselis
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
3800 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-898-6781
rmiselis@vet.upenn.edu
Jaime Modiano
Perlman Professor of On cology and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
VMD: 1991 PhD: 1991
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Peter Nowell
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: Calcium and protein kinase C as mediators of T cell activation
Undergraduate: Texas A&M University
Pre-Veterinary Medicine (Biomedical Sciences), 1984
Jaime Modiano is the Director of the University of Minnesota Animal Cancer Care and Research Program. His lab is interested in understanding cell growth regulation in the context of cancer pathogenesis, fostering an environment that spans basic to translational research.
Career Path
2011-present Public Health Mentors Program, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2016-present Member, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2008-present Member, University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute
2007-present Member, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
2007-present Adjunct Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota
2007-present Member, Graduate Faculty (VMED, Comparative Molecular Biosciences, Microbiology, Immunology &Cancer Biology, Stem Cell, Craniofacial Research), University of Minnesota
2007-present Member, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
2007-present Perlman Professor of Oncology and Comparative Medicine, University of Minnesota
2006-present Founder, ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals LLC, Aurora, CO
2005 Acting Head, Center for Cancer Causation & Prevention, AMC Cancer Center
2000-2007 Member, Graduate Faculty (Immunology, Cancer Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Scientist Training Program), University of Colorado Denver/Health Sciences Center
2000-2007 Faculty Research Associate, Latino Research & Policy Center, University of Colorado Denve
1999-2007 Full Member, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Colorado/Health Sciences Center
1999-2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor/Associate Professor (2003) of Immunology, University of Colorado/Health Sciences Center
1999-2007 Member, Graduate Faculty (Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology), Colorado State University
1999-2007 Affiliate Faculty, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University
1999-2007 Scientist/Senior Scientist, Center for Cancer Causation & Prevention, AMC Foundation of the University of Colorado Cancer Center
1999-2004 Deputy Head, Center for Cancer Causation & Prevention, AMC Cancer Center
1997-1999 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center
Career Path (continued)
1995-1999 Member, Graduate Faculty (Pathobiology, Genetics), Texas A&M University
1995-1999 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University
1993-present Founder & Managing Partner, Veterinary Research Associates LLP
Awards and Honors
-Mark of Excellence Award, University of Minnesota (2012)
-Asa Mays, DVM: Excellence in Canine Health Research Award, AKC Canine Health Foundation (2011)
-Research Scholar Award, American Cancer Society (2002)
-Shannon Award, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (1999)
-Technical Workshop Travel Award, National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Philadelphia, PA (1998)
-Clinical Investigator Development Award, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (1994)
-Individual National Research Service Award, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (1994)
Contact Information
Dr. Jaime Modiano
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
410 VMC
1365 Gortner Ave, MMC
St. Paul, MN 55108 modiano@umn.edu
Kenneth Mohn Senior Associate Director
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica
VMD: 1987 PhD: 1991
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Taub
Graduate Group: Molecular Biology/Genetics
Topic: Characterization of the immediate-early growth response in regenerating liver and insulin-stimulated
Reuber H-35 cells
Undergraduate: Cook College, Rutgers University
B.S., Animal Science, 1983
Dr. Mohn's career to date has focused on discovery and/or acquisition of novel pharmaceuticals for virtually the entire range of economically important medical conditions in domestic species. Areas of significant focus have included growth promotion in swine, management of pain and inflammation in horses, dogs and cats, control of parasites in the range of veterinary species, and treatment of a wide variety of important conditions in companion animals. His work has been as basic as equipping, managing and adapting assays for a medium through-put (800,000 compounds per year) screening laboratory and as clinical as providing veterinary care for a research farm.
2006-2009 Senior Research Scientist, Elanco Animal Health
2000-2005 Research Veterinarian, Merck Research Laboratories
1992-2000 Research Fellow, Merck Research Laboratories
1991-1992 Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Awards and Honors
-US Patent #6,331,533: Method for Inhibiting Dental Resorptive Lesions (2001)
-Postdoctoral Fellowship, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (1989 -1991)
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (1986) -National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health (1983-1988)
-George H. Cook Honors Scholar, Rutgers University (1983)
Contact Information
Dr. Kenneth Mohn
Kenneth.mohn@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Stephanie Murphy
Director, Division of Comparative Medicine
Office of Research Infrastructure Programs
Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
VMD: 1994 PhD: 1996
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Anna Pastuszko and David Wilson
Graduate Group: Biochemistry
Topic: Possible mechanisms of neurotoxicity and dopamine-mediated injury in the newborn brain during hypoxia
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
B.A., Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 1987
Dr. Murphy is responsible for programs at NIH that provide funding for the development and access to critical animal models that encompass trans-NIH research on AIDS and other infectious diseases, neurobiology, metabolic disease, reproductive biology and aging and that support NIH-wide initiatives such as the BRAIN, Opioid Crisis, Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Related Dementias, and Somatic Cell Gene Editing. She provides scientific leadership for strengthening and enhancing a critical part of the biomedical research continuum, providing support for animal models that build the bridge between basic science and human medicine, with discoveries in one species enhancing understanding of another. She provides funding for preand post-doctoral training and career development for veterinary scientists who provide unique expertise to translational biomedical research, and establishes collaborations between DCM-supported grantees and grantees funded by the NIH Institutes and Centers. Her office sets scientific priorities through the development of long-term strategic plans and execution of funding decisions, and manages the direction of operations and activities through the implementation of NIH policies and resource allocation.
Career Path
2014-present Director, Division of Comparative Medicine; Office of Research Infrastructure Programs; Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives; Office of the Director, National Institute of Health (NIH)
2013-2014 Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine & Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
2012-2013 Associate Professor, Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science Univ. Portland, OR
2007-2011 Associate Center Director for the Translational Model Program, Research Center for GenderBased Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
2006-2013 Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine and Department of Comparative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
2004-2014 Director of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine Core Animal Laboratories and Training, Oregon Health & Science University
2003-2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
2000-2003 Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Univ.
1996-2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, Comparative Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Awards and Honors
-Mentor award, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (2018)
-American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners Excellence in Research Award (2013)
-Nathan R. Brewer Scientific Achievement Award, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (2011)
-Comparative Medicine Scientist Award, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (2010)
Contact Information
Dr. Stephanie Murphy Director
Division of Comparative Medicine; Office of Research Infrastructure Programs; Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives; Office of the Director, National Institute of Health One Democracy Plaza, Room 954 6701 Democracy Boulevard Bethesda, MD 20892-4877
stephanie.murphy@nih.gov
Xuan Pan
Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Sciences
University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine
VMD: 2008 PhD: 2010
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Michael Atchison
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Cell Growth and Cancer
Topic: Function of transcription factor YY1
Undergraduate: Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics
B.A., International Trade and English, 1998
It is of critical importance that the rates of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation and self -renewal are carefully regulated and kept in balance, because severe disease states arise when this balance is disrupted. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that maintain this balance are poorly understood, and this lack of understanding represents a major roadblock to research progress, while also severely restricting the clinical potential of HSC-based therapeutic interventions. Our group identified PcG protein YY1 as an essential regulator of HSC self-renewal and differentiation in mice. Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) qu iescence is regulated by both intrinsic and extrinsic signals. Cell-cycle regulators, transcription factors, as well as epigenetic modifications, have been identified as intrinsic regulators of HSC cell -cycle progression. However, correlations of epigenetic signatures are often not highly instructive, and the mechanistic implication of epigenetic signatures in HSC self-renewal is incompletely understood. We have generated a conditional mouse knockout of YY1 in HSCs and showed that YY1 knockout decreases HSC long-term repopulating activity and ectopic YY1 expression expands HSCs. YY1-deficiency deregulates the genetic network that regulates HSC proliferation and impaired stem cell factor/c-Kit signaling, and interferes with establishment of quiescence in HSCs. These results reveal how a ubiquitously-expressed epigenetic repressor regulates lineagespecific functions and plays a critical role during hematopoiesis in adult mice. Our group currently is focusing on assessing the structure-function relationships in YY1 and dissecting the underlying mechanisms that control chromosome structural change in HSCs.
Career Path
2013-present Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison WI
2011-2013 Medical Oncology Residency, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison WI
2010-2011 Rotating Internship, Veterinary Teaching Hosptial, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI
Awards and Honors
-AVMA/AVMF Young Investigator Award (2017)
Contact Information
Dr. Pan Xuan
University of Wisconsin, Department of Medical Sciences 2015 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706 xpan24@wisc.edu
Thomas Parsons
Associate Professor
Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center
School of Veterinary Medicine
Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
VMD: 1986 PhD: 1989
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Brian Salzberg
Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Topic: Optical monitoring of the electrical activity of neuronal ensembles constructed from identified invertebrate cells
Undergraduate: Amherst College
B.A., Biology/Neurosciecne, 1982
Penn Vet Swine Teaching & Research was originally established in 2001. The research facility houses a demonstration herd for alternatives to gestation management in swine, and a space for teaching veterinary students. The facility was subsequently expanded and upgraded in 2009 to expand the mission to include research. Today, our team works with farmers, veterinarians, industry leaders, and corporations to help advance swine nutrition, husbandry, productivity, and welfare.
Career Path
2005-present Associate Professor, Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2005-present Associate Professor, Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2001-present Director of Swine Research and Teaching Center, University of Pennsylvania
2006-2008 Interim Chief, Section of Reproduction, University of Pennsylvania
2000-2005 Assistant Professor, Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
1996-2005 Assistant Professor, Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1993-1995 Research Associate, Abteilung Molekulare Zellforschung, Max Planck Institute of Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg, Germany
1991 Associate Director, Grass Fellowship Program in Neurophysiology, Marine Biological Laboratory
1989-1992 Research Associate, Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Emory University
1988-1989 Resident Visitor, Solid State and Quantum Physics Research Department, AT&T Bell Labs
1988-1989 Postdoctoral Fellow, Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Awards and Honors
-Dean's Award for Innovation in Clinical Teaching, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (2007)
-Chester County 4-H Service Award (2003)
-Participant, German-American Frontiers in Science Symposium (2001)
-Pfizer Award for Research Excellence (2001) -Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1998)
-Human Frontier Science Program Long Term Fellowship (1993)
-National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship (1991)
-Grass Foundation Fellowship in Neurophysiology (1986)
-Ziskind Award for Excellence in Swine Medicine (1986) -Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (1985)
-Dean's List, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1985)
-Syntex Award for Excellence in Animal Health Economics (1985)
-Massachusetts Farm Bureau Scholarship (1984) -Harry Hardwick Memorial Scholarship (1983)
-John Woodruff Simpson Fellowship in Veterinary Medicine and Neurobiology (1982-1984)
-Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society (1982)
-Larry H. Briggs Scholar Athletic Award (1978)
-Renseelaer Science and Math Medal (1977)
-Delegate to National 4-H Congress (1977)
Contact Information
Dr. Thomas Parsons
Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
382 West Street Road Kennett Square, PA 19348
610-925-6554
thd@vet.upenn.edu
Nikkita Patel
Research Contractor
Wildlife Foundation
VMD: 2012 PhD: 2015
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Gary Smith
Graduate Group: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Topic: Characterization of Illegal Wildlife Trade Networks
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee
B.S., Biological Sciences, 1999
Career Path
2015-present Independent Contractor, Wildlife Foundation
Awards and Honors
-Penn Vet Student Inspiration Award (2010)
Contact Information
Dr. Nikka Patel patel@conservationmedicine.org
Caroline Patten
Veterinarian
and Owner
Liberty Vet Clinic
VMD: 2009 PhD: 2007
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Steven Fluharty
Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Topic: Structural and signaling requirements of the human melanocortin 4 receptor for p44/42 MAP kinase activation
Undergraduate: Princeton University
A.B., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2000
Career Path
2014- present Veterinarian and Owner of Liberty Vet Clinic 2009 Staff Vet Blackhorse Vet Clinic
Contact Information
Dr. Caroline Patten
Liberty Veterinary Clinic 8919 Ridge Ave Philadelphia, PA 19128
Jenni Punt
Associate Dean of One Health
Professor, Pathobiology School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1988 PhD: 1991
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Yasuhiro Hashimoto
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: Regulation of positive selection and lineage commitment during thymocyte development
Undergraduate: Bryn Mawr College
A.B., Biology at Haverford College, 1983
Jenni Punt is an immunologist who has spent most of her career integrating research and teaching . She was a Biology Professor at Haverford College for eighteen years, during which she and her students worked to understand the molecular and cellular regulation of T cell and hematopoietic stem cell development. An Associate Dean for Student Research at Columbia University’s School of Physicians and Surgeons from 20132015, she was the founding director of an MD/MSc dual degree program focused on medical scholarship and continued to investigator the regulation of hematopoiesis with students in the laboratory. Tempted back to the School of Veterinary Medicine at UPenn (after an educational adventure teaching advanced biology in high school), she is now developing new educational programs as the Associate Dean of One Health and Professor in the Pathobiology Department. Her research on immune cell regulation continues, and she works at Penn Vet with undergraduate and veterinary students to understand the role of IGF1, a growth factor that plays a role in determining dog size, in immune cell activity.
Career Path
2018-present Professor, Pathobiology Penn Vet
2017-present Associate Dean of One Health, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
2015-2017 Upper School Biology Teacher, Friends Central School, Wynnewood, PA
2012-2015 Professor at Columbia University Medical Center
Senior Associate Dean of Student Research, Columbia University Medical Center
2001-2015 Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania
2007-2014 Professor, Department of Biology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA
2002-2007 Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA
1996-2002 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA
Awards and Honors
-Phi Beta Kappa Award for Excellence in Teaching, Haverford College (2007)
-Students' Association Award, Haverford College (2007)
-American Association of Immunologists Distinguished Service Award (2005)
-Innovation in Teaching Award, Haverford College (2003)
-Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, Haverford College (2002)
-James Hazlitt Jones Prize in Biochemsitry, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (1988)
-JB Lippincott Prize, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (1988)
-Elizabeth G. Shippen Scholarship for Achievement in Science, Bryn Mawr College (1982)
Contact Information
Dr. Jenni Punt punt@vet.upenn.edu
Department of Pathobiology
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Mark Pykett
Chief Innovation Officer
PTC Therapeutics Inc.
VMD: 1991 PhD: 1994
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Donna George
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Identification of molecular alterations in human meningiomas
Undergraduate: Amherst College
B.A., Biology, 1986
For the past twenty years, Dr. Pykett has been in industry working on translational efforts to bring innovations from bench to bedside in human medicine. Dr. Pykett worked across a range of technologies, including stem cells, recombinant proteins, imaging/diagnostics, precision-targeted polymers, and gene therapy, from pre-clinical development, through clinical trials and approval, and into commercialization in several therapeutic areas, primarily neurology, oncology and genetic disorders. Dr. Pykett led the development, approval and commercial launch of a precision medicine oncology product and is currently leading development and approval efforts for a neurology gene therapy in the rare disease AADC deficien cy.
1997-2002 Lecturer in Cancer Biology, School of Public Health, Harvard University
1996-2002 Co-Founder, President, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cytomatrix, LLC
1995-1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cancer Biology, School of Public Health, Harvard University
1994-1995 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-Beta Gamma Sigma, Northeastern University (MBA) (2000)
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (1991)
-Summa Cum Laude, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1991)
-American Veterinary Medical Association Award, Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Med. (1991)
-Phi Beta Kappa, Amherst College (1986)
-Summa Cum Laude, Amherst College (1986)
-Schotte Biology Research Award, Amherst College (1986)
Contact Information
Dr. Mark Pykett
PTC Therapeutics Inc.
100 Corporate Court
South Plainfield, NJ 07080-2449
mpykett@ptcbio.com
Feini (Sylvia) Qu
Postdoctoral Associate
Washington University, St. Louis
VMD: 2015 PhD: 2017
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Robert Mauck
Graduate Group: Bioengineering
Topic: Material-Mediated Modulation of the Wound Microenvironment to Enhance Endogenous Meniscus Repair
Undergraduate: Duke University
B.S.E. and B.S., Biomedical Engineering and Biology, 2009
Sylvia’s current research seeks to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of digit regeneration using a mouse model. This work will investigate the signals that direct cells to regenerate tissues of the digit after amputation, with the goal of identifying new approaches to promote the restoration of complex musculoskeletal tissues in adults in a clinically relevant and translatable fashion. Ultimately, Dr. Qu aims to study musculoskeletal repair and regeneration as an independent academic researcher.
Career Path
2017-present Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Laboratory of Dr. Farshid Guilak, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis
Contact Information
Dr. Feini (Sylvia) Qu
Washington University School of Medicine
Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases
425 S. Euclid Ave, Suite 11627
St. Louis, MO 63110
Feini.qu@wustl.edu
Gregory Rak Senior Research Investigator
Bristol-Myers Squibb
VMD: 2012 PhD: 2011
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Jordan Orange
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – CBP
Topic: Granule secretion through the actin network at the lytic NK cell synapse
Undergraduate: Delaware University
B.S., Animal Science, 2005
My Interests are in preclinical toxicology for human drug development. I work primarily on small molecules and biologics in immuno-oncology and support both their advancement into clinical trials and marketing approvals. Specifically, I provide cross-functional toxicology representation for multiple drugs, author regulatory documents and responses, and design and direct GLP and non-GLP studies.
Career Path
2018-presesnt Senior Research Investigator, Drug Safety Evaluation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, NJ
2014-2018 Research Investigator Drug Safety Evaluation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, NJ
2012-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
Dr. Gregory Rak
Bristol-Myers Squibb
1 Squibb Dr. New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Sarah Ralston
Professor Emerita and Fulbright Scholar
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
VMD: 1980 PhD: 1982
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Clifton Baile
Graduate Group: Anatomy
Topic: Factors in the control of feed intake in ponies
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Biology, 1973
Dr. Ralson retired from Rutgers University in 2017. She is still doing research with colleagues at Princeton, TAMU, and New Bolton Center, consulting and lecturing (just gave a paper at the European Workshop on Equine Nutrition in Upsalla, Sweden in August). Current research interests are regional differences in nutritional content of hays in USA, metabonomic profiles of horses predisposed to either OCD (Penn Vet collab) or laminitis (TAMU).
Career Path
2013-2017 Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University
1996-present Adjunct Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2001-2013 Associate Director of Teaching, Equine Science Center, Rutgers University
1995-2013 Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
1999-2012 Director, Young Horse Teaching and Research Program, Dept. of Animal Sciences, Rutgers
1998 Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
1995-2013 Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Science, Rutgers University
1989-1995 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Science, Rutgers University
1983-1989 Assistant Professor, and Mark Morris Chair of Clinical Nutrition, Dept of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
1982-1983 Research Associate, Dept of Large Animal Medicine, School of Vet Med, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-Fulbright Reviewer for 2017 Grant Proposals
-Veterinary Educator of the Year, New Jersey Veterinary Foundation (2016)
-Top 15 Veterinary Professors of Nutrition, VetTechColleges.org. (2014)
-Fulbright Scholar Mobility Program: Brazil Science without Borders #3477 (2014)
-Academic Professional Excellence Award for Academic Innovation, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University (2014)
Contact Information
Dr. Sarah Ralston ralstonvmd@msn.com
Laurel Redding
Assistant Professor
School of Veterinary Medicine
University
of Pennsylvania
VMD: 2012 PhD: 2015
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Sean Hennessy
Graduate Group: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Topic: Understanding the Use of Antibiotics on Small Dairy Farms in the Developing World
Undergraduate: Duke University
B.A., Religion, 2006
Antibiotic use in veterinary medicine: Antimicrobials are used extensively in animals, and their use can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Redding is interested in better understanding how antibiotics are used in veterinary settings, discerning the clinical and One Health implications of their use and developing ways to refine their use.
The animal reservoir of Clostridium difficile: Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated and nosocomial diarrhea in humans and a significant enteric pathogen in many species of animals. It is generally accepted that the administration of antibiotics is the primary risk factor for t he development and recurrence of C. difficile infection. However, patients can develop infections with C. difficile outside of a healthcare facility without the prior use of antibiotics. Dr. Redding is interested in studying whether animalsparticularly companion animals - can serve as a reservoir for C. difficile infections in people.
Career Path
2016-present Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
Contact Information
Dr. Laurel Redding
New Bolton Center
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania 382 West Street Road lredding@vet.upenn.edu
Peter Bart Reiner Professor, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research
University of British Columbia
VMD: 1982 PhD: 1984
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Adrian Morrison
Graduate Group: Anatomy
Topic: The activity of neurons in the area of the Locus Coeruleus during the states of sleep
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Biology, 1976
Peter Reiner is Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-making and Action, and founder of the Neuroethics Collective, a geographically distributed group of scholars who share an interest in issues of neuroethical import. The author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Professor Reiner began his career as a faculty member in the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research at UBC where he was the inaugural holder of the Louise Brown Chair in Neuroscience. He went on to become founder, President and CEO of Active Pass Pharmaceuticals, and in 2007 co-founded the National Core for Neuroethics. In 2018, Professor Reiner left the Core to work exclusively with the Neuroethics Collective. A champion of applying rigorous quantitative methods to neuroethical issues, Professor Reiner is frequently quoted in the media and has testified before the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. His current research is supported by a grant from the SSHRC entitled The Mind in Your Pocket.
Career Path
2018-present Founder, Neuroethics Collective
2007-2018 Professor and co-founder, National Core for Neuroethics, University of British Columbia
1998-present Professor, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, University of British Columbia
1997-2001 Louise Brown Chair in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia
1995-2001 Head, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia
1995 Visiting Professor, Universite de Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicetre
1993-1998 Associate Professor, Kinsman Laboratory of Neurological Research, Univ. of British Columbia
1991-1999 Associate Member, Department of Physiology, University of British Columbia
1988-1993 Assistant Professor, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Univ. of British Columbia
1987 Visiting Scientist, Neurophyisiologisches Laboratorium, University of Zurich
1984-1987 Postdoctoral Fellow, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Univ. of British Columbia
Corporate Positions Held
2004-2006 Chairman, Active Pass Pharmaceuticals
1998-2004 Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, Active Pass Pharmaceuticals
Non-profit Positions
2005-2015 Director, Galiano Conservancy Association
Awards and Honors
-Louise Brown Chair in Neuroscience (1997-2001)
-Scientist Award, Medical Research Council (1994-1999)
Contact Information
Dr. Peter Bart Reiner
Department of Psychiatry Neuroethics Collective
University of British Columbia 2255 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5 peter.reiner@ubc.ca
John Robertson Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Virginia Tech University
VMD: 1976 PhD: 1977
Thesis Mentor: Dr. David T. Rowlands, Jr.
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: Tubulointerstitial and glomerulonephritis in the Brown Norway rat: A model for autoimmune nephritis
Undergraduate: State University of New York Stony Brook
B.S., Biology, 1969
John Robertson VMD PhD (V’76, G/M’77) is currently a Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Science, in Blacksburg, VA. He is currently a co-investigator on a $9.2M Program Project Grant and separate R01 grant from NCI centered on developing novel methods to treat human high grade aggressive brain malignancies, including glioblastoma. His role is translational animal modeling for pre-clinical device and therapy development. Dr. Robertson also is co-inventor of several technologies for assessing and treating chronic kidney disease, including a novel technology to measure hemodialysis adequacy, and other technologies to improve hemodialysis efficiency and to screen for the presence of bladder cancer using urine. In 2015, Dr. Robertson partnered with Dr. Ryan Senger and founded DialySensors Inc., a company that focuses on non-invasive, accurate disease screening.
Career Path
2016-present Professor, Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech-Carilion Research Inst.
2013-present Research Professor, Translational Cancer Engineering and Biomedical Imaging, Virgina TechWake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Science (SBES)
2013-present President and CEO, DialySensors Inc.
2009-present Clinical Research Professor, Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center and Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
2009-2014 Professor, Department of Basic Sciences, Virginia Tech, Carilion School of Medicine , Roanoke, VA
2000-2012 Director, Center for Comparative Oncology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
2004-2008 Research Professor, Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
1999-2002 Chief, Anatomic Pathology Services, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
1997-2013 Professor, Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathology, VirginiaMaryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
1989-1997 Associate Professor, Anatomic Pathology, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Pathology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
1980-1989 Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1981 Adjunct Instructor of Pathology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
1980-1989 Adjunct Instructor in Experimental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Career Path (continued)
1979-1989 Senior Pathologist, ICI Americas, Inc.
1977-1979 Pathologist and Research Associate, Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1976-1989 Associate Veterinarian, Media Veterinary Hospital, Media, PA
1969-1972 Supervisor, Diagnostic Laboratories, Division of Lab Animal Medicine, Univ. of Rochester
Awards and Honors
-Nominee, Pfizer Teaching Excellence Award (2012)
-Nominee, Pfizer Teaching Excellence Award (2011)
-Nominee, Pfizer Teaching Excellence Award (2010)
-Advisory Council Member, Westie Foundation of America (2010)
-Nominee, Pfizer Teaching Excellence Award (2009)
-Nominee, Pfizer Teaching Excellence Award (2008)
-Nominee, Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award (2007)
-Nominee, Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award (2006)
-Nominee, Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award (2005)
-Meritorious Service Award, Society of Toxicologic Pathology (2004)
-Nominee, Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (2004)
-Nominee, Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (2003)
-Meritorious Service Award, Society of Toxicologic Pathology (2003)
-American Cancer Society Outstanding Collaboration Award (2003)
-American Cancer Society Regional Award of Merit (2002)
Contact Information
Dr. John Robertson School of Biomedical Engineering and Science (SBES)
Virginia Tech
1700 Kraft Drive, Balckburgh VA drbob@mail.vt.edu
Mary Robinson Director, Pennvet Equine Pharmacology Laboratory
Clinical Studies Department, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 2010 PhD: 2009
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Otto and Cameron Koch
Graduate Group: Pharmacology
Topic: Oxygen-mediated regulation of nitric oxide production by cytokinestimulated macrophages
Undergraduate: Dickinson College
B.S., Biology, 2001
Dr. Robinson’s primary interests are pharmacological and forensic research to support the welfare of the working horse and the integrity of equestrian sports. Studies in the areas of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, analytical chemistry, and biomarkers have been completed and are ongoing. The effects of the management system (housing, training regimens) on PK/PD parameters and biomarkers of health and disease, the environmental impact of drug use in racehorses, the potential to decrease the quantity of drug use by using nano-delivery devices, and gene therapy/doping are emerging areas of interest.
Dr. Robinson’s clinical service is provided predominantly to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) State Racing Commission as a Consultant, Expert Witness, and the Acting Director for the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) located in West Chester PA. She oversees Penn (25) and PDA (3) employees performing drug testing for the Commonwealth’s 6 racetracks. PETRL analyzes up to 35,000 samples per year for hundreds of drugs.
Career Path
2014-present Director, Penn Vet Equine Pharmacology Laboratory, Dept.. of Clinical Studies, NBC School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania;
2014-present Acting Director, Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, West Chester PA
2010-2014 Lecturer, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2010-2014 Co-Director, Penn Vet Equine Pharmacology Laboratory, Dept.. of Clinical Studies, NBC School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania;
Honors and Awards
-Diplomat, American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (2018)
Contact Information
Dr. Mary Robinson
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
104 Scott Sports Medicine Building New Bolton Center
382 West Street Road
marobins@vet.upenn.edu
Allen Rushmer
Veterinarian and Owner
Next Generation Embryo Transfer
VMD: 1975 PhD: 1981
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Ralph Brinster
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Examination of the interaction of oocytes and their surrounding cumulus cells
Undergraduate: Cornell University
B.S., Animal Science, 1970
Contact Information
Dr. Allen Rushmer
Next Generation Embryo Transfer
3162 Oregon Pike Leola, PA 17540 nextgenvet@gmail.com
Melissa Sánchez
Chair, Oral Pathology Specialty Group
Antech Diagnostics
VMD: 2002 PhD: 2006
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Robert Doms
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Characterization of neutralizing antibodies against West Nile virus in mice and horses
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
B.S., Zoology, 1998
Dr. Sánchez completed her PhD in Virology/Cell and Molecular Biology focusing on the antibody immune response against West Nile virus in horses. Following her VMD/PhD studies, she embarked in an Anatomic Pathology residency at Penn. During her residency she was awarded the Pfizer/Ricardo Ochoa Minority Fellowship granted by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists/Society of Toxicologic Pathology Coalition for Veterinary Pathology Fellows. She served as a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Penn, where she served as chief of the small animal autopsy service. Melissa joined ANTECH Diagnostics in 2016. She is Clinical Associate Professor at Western University of Health Sciences/College of Veterinary Medicine and Chair of the Oral Pathology Specialty group at Antech. Her clinical and research interests include oral pathology and neuropathology. She leads diagnostic pathology studies, primarily in the area of oral pathology in dogs and cats.
2014-2015 Director, Immunohistochemistry Services, Penn Vet Diagnostic Lab, School of Vet Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2013-2015 Director, Immunohistochemistry Services, Comparative Pathology Core, School of Vet Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2013-2015 Oral Pathology and Neuropathology Service, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2013-2015 Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2010-2015 Chief, Small Animal Autopsy Service - School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2012-2013 Staff Veterinarian, Anatomic Pathology - School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2009-2012 Lecturer, Anatomic Pathology - School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
2006-2009 Resident in Anatomic Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2008 Externship in Pathology, Pfizer, Inc.
2008 Externship in Comparative Pathology, National Institutes of Health, Division of Veterinary Resources
Awards and Honors
-C. L. Davis Foundation Student Scholarship Award in Veterinary Pathology - Charles Louis Davis Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary and Comparative Pathology (2008)
-Penn Faculty Pathways Program - University of Pennsylvania (2014-2015)
-Class of 2017 Award for Excellence in Teaching Philadelphia Campus - School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2015)
Contact Information
Dr. Melissa Sánchez
Antech Diagnostics
410 Union Ave, Framingham, MA 01702
Melissa.Sanchez@antechmail.com
Eric Sandgren
Associate Professor of Experimental Pathology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison
VMD: 1986 PhD: 1992
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Ralph Brinster
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Transforming growth factor alpha and multistage cancer in the mouse
Dr. Sandgren was formerly the Director of UW-Madison’s Research Animal Resources Center (RARC), where he was responsible for establishing and maintaining a high quality program of animal care and use, and serving as spokesperson for animal research issues at UW-Madison. He is currently developing communication tools that can be used to more effectively explain why and how we work with animals in research, teaching, and outreach. He founded the Common Ground on Anima l Research initiative within UW-Madison and the surrounding community, which brings together scientists, ethicists, and community members to work toward shared objectives in this area. The objectives of the initative is to: (1) creating more comprehensive, accurate, and open communication about animal research, and (2) working to improve research animal wellbeing. His research interests include molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, transgenic mouse models of cancer genetics, studies of xenogeneic transplantation, and human hepatocyte biology in rodents.
Career Path
2000-present Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2005-2015 Director, Research Animal Resources Center, University of Wisconsin
1993-2000 Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Contact Information
Dr. Eric Sandgren
Department of Pathobiological Sciences
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison 2015 Linden Drive West Room 3345 eric.sandgren@wisc.edu
Linda Schuler
Professor, Comparative Biosciences
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
VMD: 1981 PhD: 1980
Thesis Mentor: Dr. J.F. Strauss, III
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: Cholesterol metabolism in the ovary of the rat
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin
B.A., Zoology, 1974
Metastatic, anti-estrogen resistant ER+ breast cancer accounts for the majority of breast cancer mortality. Using preclinical in vivo and in vitro models, my laboratory group investigates how mammotrophic hormones (estrogen, progesterone, prolactin) interact and cooperate with other oncogenic processes in the deve loping pathology of this disease, and examines regulators of the behavior and therapeutic responsiveness of the luminal B breast cancer subtype. We have developed a mouse model, NRL-PRL, which mimics the prolactin synthesis in breasts of women. Nulliparous females spontaneously develop diverse metastatic ER+ carcinomas, confirming the epidemiologic link between prolactin exposure and aggressive ER+ clinical cancers. This model permits examination of the dynamic in vivo processes that drive the development and progression of this subset of clinical cancers, including metastasis and treatment sensitivity. Transplantation of these carcinomas and derived cell lines to syngeneic immunocompetent hosts enables analysis of therapeutic responses at the primary and distant sites of disease, including anti-tumor immunity. These studies are complemented by in vitro systems, permitting dissection of the molecular mechanisms that mediate crosstalk among hormones, growth factors and the microenvironment. We team with clinic al oncologists and pathologists, as well as experts in steroid hormone signaling, the extracellular matrix, immunology and stem cell biology to understand how hormones contribute to tumorigenesis, progression and therapeutic resistance of ER+ breast cancers. Our findings illuminate the biology of luminal B cancers, and will facilitate development of prevention and treatment strategies.
Career Path
2015-present Associate Chair for Faculty Development, Dept. Comparative Biosciences, Univ . of Wisconsin-Madison
1997-present Professor, Dept. of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Wisconsin
2011-present Member, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center
1999-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Wisconsin
1995-present Member, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center
2014 Interim Chair, Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin- Madison
1989-1997 Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin
1983-1989 Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin
1981-1983 Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin
Awards and Honors
-Harriett Tischler Lecturer, Dana Farber Cancer Institute (2017)
-UW Doris Slesinger Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2014)
-Renk Distinguished Professor (1999)
Contact Information
Dr. Linda Schuler
Dept of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin
linda.schuler@wisc.edu
Abigail Shearin Veterinary Medical Officer
Federal Department of Agriculture
VMD: 2017 PhD: 2016
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Morrie Birbaum and Patrick Seale
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Genetics and Gene Regulation
Topic: Effect of cell signals on translational control
Undergraduate: St. Mary’s College of Maryland
B.A., Biology, 2005
Career Path
2018-present Veterinary Medical Officer, FDA
2018-2018 Staff Fellow, FDA 2017-2018 Associate Veterinarians, Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
Contact Information
Dr. Abigail Shearin
U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Ave Sliver Spring, MD 20993 Abby.shearin@gmail.com
W. Douglas Sheffield Chief Scientific Officer, Cadence Neurosciences, Inc
VMD: 1975 PhD: 1977
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Seung Kim and Nicholas Gonatas
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: Pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
B.A., Biology, 1971
Dr. Sheffield is the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Cadence Neuroscience Inc. Cadence Neuroscience is developing a novel neuromodulation implantable medical device therapy for patients with drug resistant epilepsy that was developed and licensed from the Mayo Clinic. Cadence Neuroscience is conducting clinical research in adult and pediatric patients with excellent results to date. Dr. Sheffield’s interest is to develop a platform cortical neuromodulation stimulation and recording system for treating epilepsy, memory loss, and depression
1992-1999 Director, Surgical Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon Endo- Surgery
1989-1992 Director, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
1987-1989 Associate Director of Research, Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
1986-1987 Manager, Surgical Pharmacology, Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
1982-1986 Section manager, Pathobiology, Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
1980-1982 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland
1977-1980 Fellow, Comparative Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Contact Information
Dr. Douglas Sheffield
Cadence Neuroscience
2036 223rd Pl NE
Sammamish, WA, 98074-4134 wdsheffield@gmail.com
Spencer Shelly Veterinarian
Doylestown Animal Medical Clinic
VMD: 2012 PhD: 2013
Thesis Mentor: Drs. Roslyn Eisenberg, and Gary Cohen
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology - Cellular Physiology
Topic: Factors regulating Vesicular Stomatitis Virus pathogenesis and cellular innate immune response using high-throughput RNAi screens in Drosophila
Undergraduate: Ursinus College B.S., Biology, 2000
Career Path
2016-present Veterinarian, Doylestown Animal Medical Clinic
2013-2016 Veterinarian, DE
Contact Information
Dr. Spencer Shelly
Doylestown Animal Medical Clinic
802 North Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18902
Bruce Smith
Professor of Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University
VMD: 1988 PhD: 1993
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Urs Giger
Graduate Group: Genetics
Topic: Canine phosphofructokinase deficiency
Undergraduate: Haverford College
B.A., Biology, 1984
Dr. Smith is the Director of the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer (AURIC). This program seeks to enhance and expand cancer research at Auburn University and to build collaborations and research partnerships throughout the region and the country. Dr. Smith’s teaching focuses on genetics and molecular biology and his research focuses on genetic and cell-based therapies of cancer and muscular dystrophies, and the translation of these therapies into a clinical setting. Dr. Smith has interests in several tumors including osteosarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma, hemangiosarcoma and breast cancer. His lab is now working to identify targets for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics through genome, transcriptome and miRnome sequencing. Dr. Smith has recently become involved in the field of Synthetic Biology and was recently produced a synthetic adenovirus. He is applying this technology to generating precision therapies on a per-patient basis. In his spare time, he helped create and teaches in the Auburn University Brewing Science Program, which currently awards a graduate certificate and is moving to implement graduate degrees in Brewing Science.
Career Path
2015-2017 Chair, Auburn University Omics and Informatics Cluster Hire
2012-present Director, Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer (AURIC)
2008-present Professor, Scott-Ritchey Research Center and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
2008-2009 Selected as a Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium (SECAC), Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) Fellow
1999-2007 Director, Molecular Medicine Research Program, Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
1995-2001 Director, Nucleic Acid Services Facility, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
1999-2008 Associate Professor, Scott-Ritchey Research Center and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
1993-1999 Assistant Professor, Scott-Ritchey Research Center and the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
1990-1993 Kleberg Fellow in Medical Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
-Selected Keynote Speaker, Gene Therapy Center Research Symposium, Homewood Alabama (2007)
Contact Information
Dr. Bruce Smith
Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 smithbf@auburn.edu
Gail K. Smith
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1974 PhD: 1982
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Black
Graduate Group: Materials Science Engineering
Topic: Passivation and corrosion kinetics of Stainless Steel 316L orthopaedic implants
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
B.S., Materials Science Engineering, 1970
Dr. Smith's physical sciences background has helped him explore and innovate materials and mechanics applicable to orthopaedics. One example of an idea that w ent from mechanics laboratory to clinical usage is an improvement in the measurement of hip laxity. Having a reliable quantitative measure of hip laxity allows us to predict with good accuracy dogs and cats that are susceptible to getting hip OA later in life. This technology is known as "PennHIP" and is now being adopted worldwide.
Career Path
1993-2014 Director of PennHIP, Antech Imaging Services,
1996-2014 Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1999-2006 Chair, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1988-1996 Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1985-1988 Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Awards and Honors
-World Small Animal Veterinary Association Award for Excellence in Orthpaedic Medicine and Surgery, Rhodes, Greece (2004)
-James H. Yarborough Honored Lecturer, 17th Annual International Canine Sports Medicine Symposium, Orlando, FL (2001)
Contact Information
Dr. Gail Smith
Department of Clinical Studies School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
3850 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104
smithgk@vet.upenn.edu
John Stambaugh Veterinarian/Chief of Surgery
VCA Boston Road Animal Hospital
VMD: 1974 PhD: 1975
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Carl Brighton
Graduate Group: Physiology
Topic: The effects of calcification on diffusion in the epiphysical plate
Undergraduate: Franklin & Marshall University B.A., Biology, 1969
Contact Information
Dr. John Stambaugh Boston Road Animal Hospital 1235 Boston Road Springfield, MA 01119
Todd Strochlic
Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Drexel University
VMD: 2008 PhD: 2008
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Christopher Burd
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology - Cell Biology and Physiology
Topic: Regulated protein sorting in the endosomal system
Undergraduate: Brown University
B.S., Biology; B.A., Classics, 2000
Dr. Todd Strochlic's research is aimed at understanding how protein kinase mediated signaling pathways regulate normal developmental processes such as gametogenesis and how these pathways go awry in various diseases. Previous work in his lab has focused on the role of the p38 MAP kinase pathway and its downstream kinase MAPKAPK2 (MK2) in the context of male germ cell development, and more recently, his laboratory has begun investigating the role of casein kinase 2 (CK2) in oogenesis. His lab uses a combination of genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches in both Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian cells to study these signaling pathways.
Career Path
2013-present Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine
2006-2018 Deputy Director, Molecular & Cellular Biology and Genetics (MCBG) program, Drexel Univeristy College of Medicine
2009-2013 Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Peterson, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Awards and Honors
-Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018)
-Scholarly Materials and Equipment Research Award, for Plasmid Library (2017)
-Drosophila GSA Conference Image Award Finalist (2015)
-AVMA/AVMF Young Investigator Award-1st Place Winner (2012)
-Burroughs Wellcome Fund “Becoming Faculty” Workshop Participant (2012)
-American Cancer Society Research Acceleration Grant (In Kind) 2011
-Edward David Lustbader Prize: 1st Place Oral Presentation (2010)
-Edward David Lustbader Prize: 2nd Place Poster Presentation (2009)
Contact Information
Dr. Todd Strochlic
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
245N. 15th Street, Mail Stop 497 Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-762-3664
todd.strochlic@drexelmed.edu
Ruth Sullivan
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Comparative Biosciences
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison
VMD: 1991 PhD: 1996
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Lo
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Conotruncal cardiac malformation and neural tube defects in transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative CS43/-galactosidase fusion protein
Undergraduate: Brown University
A.B., Biochemistry/Mathematics, 1987
Dr. Sullivan is a board certified Veterinary Pathologist with a PhD in molecular biology. She is interested in using advanced optical methods to assess the anatomy, morphology, and biology of tissue samples and her research home is the University of Wisconsin – Madison Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation (LOCI). Dr. Sullivan is very interested in developmental biology and has focused much of her independent work on questions of developmental biology/embryology.
Contact Information
Dr. Ruth Sullivan University of Wisconsin-Madison 2015 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706 rsulliv2@wisc.edu
Steven Suter
Professor of Medical Oncology
School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina
State University
VMD: 1995 PhD: 2000
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Paula Henthorn
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: The isolation and characterization of a population of canine putative hematopoietic progenitor cells and their use as targets for retroviral mediated gene therapy
Undergraduate: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
B.S., Biology/Chemistry, 1979
Steven Suter is the Medical Director of the Canine Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. The Suter lab main research focus is geared towards understanding the molecular underpinnings of canine hematologic malignancies using a variety of genomics techniques such as qRT-PCR, gene expression profiling, epigenetic profiling, RNAseq, and GWAS studies. The laboratory also houses the vast majority of published canine lymphoid cell lines which we use for a variety of cell cytotoxicity studies to evaluate novel therapeutics. Finally, the laboratory houses the Canine/Feline Oncology Diagnostic Laboratory which offers a variety of PCR-based diagnostic tests for both NCSU CVM and referring veterinarians.
Career Path
2018-present Professor, Medical Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
2012-2017 Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
2008-present Director, Canine Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
2006-2012 Assistant Professor of Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
2003-2005 Lecturer, Medical Oncology, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Univ. of California, Davis
2001-2003 Postdoctoral Fellow, laboratory of Dr. Cheryl London, University of California, Davis
2001-2003 Resident in Medical Oncology, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Univ. of California, Davis
2000-2001 Intern, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1996-1999 Teaching Assistant, Small Animal Reproduction Wet Lab, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
1996-1999 Teaching Assistant, Embryology and Histology Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1995-2000 Private Practioner, O'Neal's and Ivens Veterinary Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA
1995-1997 Lecturer, Cancer Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Awards and Honors
-Maverick Altman White Coat Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University (2008)
-Cody McGrath White Coat Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University (2008)
Contact Information
Dr. Steven Suter
North Carolina State University , College of Veterinary Medicine sesuter@ncsu.edu
James A. Thomson
Director of Regenerative Biology
Morgridge Institute for Research
Professor of Cell and Regenerative Biology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
VMD: 1985 PhD: 1988
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Davor Solter
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Understanding genetic imprinting in early mammalian development
Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Chamgaign
B.S., Biophysics, 1981
Dr. Thomson has conducted pioneering work in the isolation and culture of non-human primate and human embryonic stem cells undifferentiated cells that can proliferate without limit and have the ability to become any of the differentiated cells of the body. As a research tool, the human embryonic stem (ES) cell is broadly enabling, allowing unprecedented access to the cellular components of the human body, with applications in basic research, drug discovery and transplantation medicine. Dr. Thomson directed the group that reported the first isolation of ES cell lines from a non-human primate in 1995, work that led his group to the first successful isolation of human embryonic stem cell lines in 1998. In 2007, Dr. Thomson’s lab reported (contemporaneously with Dr. Shinya Yamanaka) the first isolation of human induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells. iPS cells have the basic properties of human ES cells but are derived from somatic cells rather than human embryos. Awarded “Scientific Breakthrough of the Year” by Science magazine, this groundbreaking discovery not only has the potential to end the ethical controversy that has surrounded stem cell research, but it is also a significant step toward treating diseases with a patient’s own cells. At its most basic, Dr. Thomson’s current research focuses on understanding how ES cells can form any cell in the body (pluripotency); how an ES cell chooses between self-renewal and the initial decision to differentiate; and how a differentiated cell with limited developmental potential can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent cell. His specif ic research interests include: examining the transcriptional networks in ES cells that mediate self- renewal and commitment to each of the basic lineages of the early embryo; mapping the epigenome of ES cells and their early-differentiated derivatives as a participant in the San Diego Epigenome Center; improving methods for generating human iPS cells, and correcting genetic defects in iPS cells generated from patients with degenerative retinal disease; developing new strategies to convert human pluripotent stem and somatic cells into hematopoietic, vascular, and cardiac progenitor cells; and understanding clocking mechanisms that control developmental rates.
Career Path
2008-present Director of Regenerative Biology, Morgridge Institute for Research
2006-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara
2003-present Jim Kress Endowed Chair, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2003-present John D. MacArthur Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2002-present Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Univ. of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
1999-2002 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1995-2002 Chief Pathologist, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin
1994-1995 Assistant Scientist, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin
1991-1994 Resident, Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin
1989-1991 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
Awards and Honors
-Co-Winner, King Faisal International Prize (2011)
-Co-Winner, Albany Medical Prize (2011)
-McEwen Award for Innovation, The International Society of Stem Cell Research, ISSCR (2013)
-Co-recipient of the Meira and Shaul G. Massry Prize (2008)
-Named one of 100 people in TIME magazine's "The Most Influential People in the World" (2008)
-Cited as one of 12 Stem Cell Revolutionaries in Forbes.com (2008)
-Elected to the National Academy of Sciences (2008)
-Named in Conde Nast's Portfolio magazine, The Brilliant Issue, as one of "The 73 Biggest Brains in Business" (2008)
-Nominated by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for the Wisconsin Person of the Year (2007)
-Brian D. Howell Excellence in Innovation Award, Best of Madison Business Awards, Madison, WI (2007)
-The Isolation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells was listed among the most significant scientific advances of 2007 in TIME (#1), Nature, VOANews.com (Voice of America), NBC News (#1), Science (#2), USA Today (#2), The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (#1), The Independent, Wired Magazine (#1), and Reader's Digest (#1)
-Nathan R. Brewer Scientific Achievement Award, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (2006)
-Named in Science's "Milestones of Science" poster (2005)
-Distinguished Service Award for Enhancing Education through Biological Research, The National Association of Biology Teachers, Inc. (2005)
-Wisconsin Idea Fellow (2004)
-Frank Annuzio Award (Science/Technology) sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Foundation (2003)
-Coalition for Medical Research (CAMR) Award (2003)
-Honored as a "Wisconsin Innovator" by Governor Jim Doyle during his Inaugural Address (2003)
-MIT Club of Wisconsin Award (2003)
-American College of Veterinary Pathologists Outstanding Achievement Award (2003)
-Lois Pope Annual LIFE International Research Award (2002)
-Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Wisconsin Chapter Honoree (2002)
-Elected a Wisconsin Academy of Sciecnes, Arts and Letters Fellow (2002)
-World Technology Award (Health and Medicine), co-sponsored by The Economist-London, Business Week, NASDAQ, Cisco, Intel, Novartis, TIME, Nature and Science (2002)
-"Man of the Year," Madison Magazine (2001) -Featured as "One of the Most Intriguing People of 2001," People magazine (2001)
-Hall of Fame Award for Scientific Achievement, 15th Annual Conference of Biotechnology CEOs (2001)
-Wilson S. Stone Memorial Award for Biomedical Research (2001)
-Cover Feature for "America's Best in Science and Medicine," TIME magazine (2001)
-The isolation of human ES cells was featured by the journal Science in its "Scientific Breakthrough of the Year" issue (1999)
-American Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award (1999)
-Honored as a "Wisconsin Pioneer" by Governor Tommy Thompson during the State of the State Address (1999)
-World Technology Award Finalist (Health and Medicine), co-sponsored by The Economist-London, Nature, NASDAQ, Business Week and CNBC (1999)
-The Isolation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells was listed among the most significant advances of 1998 in Science, TIME, The London Times, and Discover magazines (1998)
Contact Information
Dr. James A. Thomson
Morgridge Institute for Research
330 N Orchard Street Madison, WI 53715
jthomson@morgridge.org
Alexander J. Travis
Associate
Associate
Professor of
Reproductive Biology and
Dean for International Programs and Public Health
Cornell University
VMD: 1995 PhD: 1999
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Gregory S. Kopf
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology
Topic: Characterization, targeting and functional analyses of male germ cellspecific isoforms of type I hexokinase in the mouse
Undergraduate: Princeton University
A.B., Biology, 1989
Dr. Travis’s research explores a diverse set of subjects related to One Health, which is interdisciplinary work that links the functions and wellbeing of people, animals, and the environment. His interests include animal health and fertility as well as efforts to help alleviate poverty and hunger in developing countries, work that indirectly benefits local wildlife. Dr. Travis serves as Associate Dean of International Programs and Public Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and is founding Director of Cornell’s new Master of Public Health program. Dr. Travis’ lab lab explores a diverse set of subjects, including nano-technology, cell function and physiology, and wildlife conservation and sustainability at the landscape scale.
Career Path
2017-present Collaboration Lead, Environmental Defense Fund, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future Collaboration Lead, Smithsonian Institution, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
2015-present Associate Dean for International Programs and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine Director, Master of Public Health training program
2013-2016 Faculty Director, Environment, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
2008-present Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology and Wildlife Conservation
2007-present Director of the Cornell Center for Wildlife Conservation, Baker Institute for Animal Health and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University
2002-2008 Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology, Baker Institute for Animal Health and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University
2000-2002 Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania
1999-2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, UPenn
Awards and Honors
-State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (2012)
-NIH Pioneer Award (2009-2014; no-cost extension through 2015)
-Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (2006)
-Bayard T. Storey Prize for Excellence in Research, Center for Research on Re production and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania (2001)
-Leonard Pearson Prize, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Contact Information
Dr. Alexander J. Travis
Baker Institute for Animal Health College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
ajt32@cornell.edu
Susan W. Volk
Associate
Professor of Small Animal Surgery
University of Pennsylvania
VMD: 1995 PhD: 1998
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Phoebe Leboy
Graduate Group: Pathology
Topic: Bone morphogenetic protein signaling during chondrocyte maturation
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Biology, 1991
The goals of the Volk laboratory are to understand regulatory mechanisms governing dynamic interactions between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix in the wound healing-fibrosis-cancer progression triad and to apply this knowledge to develop innovative regenerative and oncologic therapies for veterinary and human patients. Dr. Volk’s research interest include mechanisms of extracellular matrix mediated-regulation of cell fate and activities in the regenerative and tumor microenvironments; cutaneous wound healing; scar formation and fibrosis; regenerative medicine; cell-based therapies; animal models; clinical wound care and reconstructive surgery.
Career Path
2018-present Associate Professor, Small Animal Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
2007-2018 Assistant Professor, Small Animal Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2003-2006 Lecturer in Small Animal Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
2000-2003 Resident in Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1999-2000 Rotating Intern in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1998-1999 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Awards and Honors
-Young Investigator Award Finalist, 16th Annual Meeting of the Wound Healing Society (2006)
-Saul Winegrad Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Biomedical Graduate Studies, University of Pennsylvania (1999)
-Young Investigator Award, Sixth International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues (1998)
Section of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
312 Hill Pavilion, 380 S. University Ave swvolk@vet.upenn.edu
John H. Wolfe Professor of Pathology
Director Goodman Center
for
Comparative Medical Genetics
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Stokes Investigator
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
VMD: 1982 PhD: 1986
Thesis Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Blank
Graduate Group: Immunology
Topic: H-2-linked control of retrovirus production in Gross and Friend virus-induced tumor cell lines
Undergraduate: Ripon College
A.B., Philosophy, 1969
Dr. Wolfe's research interest includes gene transfer and stem cell engraftment in the central nervous system, genetic diseases, animal models, mechanisms of pathology. Animal homologs of human genetic diseases are used as test systems for gene transfer by viral vectors. The approaches for transferring genes to the brain currently being investigated are ex vivo gene transfer using retrovirus and lentivius vector- modified neural stem cells transplanted to the brain and direct injection of herpesvirus, adeno-associated virus, and lentivirus vectors. The studies involve comparisons of promoters, properties of transduction for different cell types and various subregions of the brain. New methods to follow cell fate and gene expression in the live animal are being explored using MRI and PET techniques. Studies are also being directed towards better understanding of the mechanism of disease in the brain.
Career Path
2005-present Professor of Pathobiology in Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
1997-present Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1998-present Director, Walter Flato Goodman Center for Comparative Medical Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1998-present Stokes Investigator of the Joseph Stokes, Jr. Research Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
1994-2001 Director, Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1993-1997 Associate Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1987-1993 Assistant Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
1985-1987 Exxon Fellow, Molecular Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Awards and Honors
-Meeting Organizer/Chair:
International Conference on Glycoprotein Disorders (2007)
NIH Workshop on the Mucopolysaccharidoses (2007) Neural Disease Symposia and Workshops,
American Society of Gene Therapy (2005-2008)
Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Germany (2004)
Faculty Workshop, Dog/Cat Models of Human Disease, Penn Med and Penn Vet Med (2003)
NINDS Workshop, Treatment of Brain in MPS Disorders (2002)
25th Anniversary Symposium, Center for Comparative Medical Genetics, Penn (2000)
International Workshop, Neuronal Precursor Cell Biology, Japan (1999)
International Symposium on MPS and Related Diseases, Australia (1996) Workshop, Keystone Symposium (1996) Scientific Symposium, AVMA (1995)
-Grant Reviewer
Medical Research Council (UK)
Telethon Foundation (Italy) ELA Research Foundation (France)
American Kennel Club National MPS Society March of Dimes Wellcome Trust ( UK)
NIH
-Who's Who in America
-Keynote Speaker, 4th Dawn B. Marks Memorial Research Conference, Temple University (2004)
-The Leslie Nicholas Lecture, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (2002)
-Distinguished Lecturer, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (2000)
-The John Morgan Society (1994-present)
-Master of Arts (honors causa), University of Pennsylvania (1993)
Research Interest: Patterning and development, regeneration, and animal models of genetic disease
Robyn is currently engaged in thesis research with her mentors Drs. Mary Mullins and Eileen Shore.
Research
Robyn’s thesis research focuses on the molecular changes in BMP signaling in the disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Zebrafish embryos develop robust dose dependent dorso-ventral patterning phenotypes in response to changes in BMP activity. Robyn uses injection of RNA and morpholino oligos into zebrafish embryos to observe the effect of changes in ligand binding and receptor interactions on BMP signaling in FOP. Robyn assesses her data with a variety of tools including phenotypic evaluation and in situ hybridization and quantitative immunostaining for downstream markers of BMP signaling.
Awards and Honors
-Cali Family Grant
-Combined Degree Retreat best oral presentation (2018)
Contact Information roallen@vet.upenn.edu
Bailey Baumann
Year of Entry: 2013
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism
Research Interest: Ophthalmology, retinal degenerative diseases, neuroinflammation, iron metabolism, liver metabolism
Bailey is currently performing thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Joshua Dunaief.
Research
Bailey’s research focuses on understanding how retinal iron import, efflux and transport are regulated and how retinal iron homeostasis is maintained. We know that iron accumulation is a feature observed in many neurodegenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population, however, we do not understand what causes this iron dysregulation. Bailey’s research focuses specifically on the role of multi-copper ferroxidases (MCF), ferroportin and hepcidin in the regulation of iron export in several retinal cells, including the major retinal glial cell, Muller cells, bipolar cells, retinal pigment epithelium, and the retinal vascular endothelium. To understand the role of these proteins in the retina, she has developed conditional MCF, ferroportin and hepcidin KO models using a traditional Lox-Cre approach as well as developing a Lox-Cre AAV9 delivery system. Bailey will determine the effect of loss of these proteins on iron levels, the expression of iron importers, exporters, storage proteins, and visual outcomes.
(Bailey Baumann continued)
These studies will help better understand how iron is imported into the retina and how it moves between the different retinal layers. In addition to this main thesis project, a secondary objective in her research is to better understand how neuroinflammation and retinal iron dysregulation are related. Neuroinflammation is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases, including retinal degenerative diseases such as AMD, however, the consequences of prolonged neuroinflammatory stimulation in the retina are not fully understood. We believe that retinal iron levels can become dysregulated in response to prolonged inflammatory stimuli, and consequently contributing to neurodegenerative processes. Bailey’s research focuses on understanding how inflammatory cytokine stimulation changes the expression of iron handling proteins in both the support cells of the retina (RPE, Muller cells, microglia) and retinal neurons.
Awards and Honors
-Univ. of Penn Vision Science Training Grant (5T32EY007035-37)
-Phi Zeta Research Day Oral presentation 1st place (2017, 2018), 2nd place (2016)
-CAMB Symposium-best poster award (2018)
Contact Information bbaum@vet.upenn.edu
Sondra Calhoun Lavigne
Year of Entry: 2012
Graduate Group: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Interest: The intersection of human and animal health, specifically regarding antibiotic resistance and stewardship
Sondra is currently performing thesis research in the lab of Dr. Theoklis Zaoutis.
Research
Sondra is interested in the intersection of human and animal health, especially in terms of antibiotic resistance and stewardship. She works with faculty across Penn Vet, Penn Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on interdisciplinary research initiatives. For her dissertation, Sondra is conducting two studies on antimicrobial resistance, use, and stewardship impacting both companion animals and children in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. The first is a qualitative interview study investigating companion animal veterinary decision making around antibiotic use among practitioners serving diverse clientele in various practice types. The second is a study combinin g data from Penn Vet and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to investigate residential location as a spatial risk factor for antibiotic resistant infections and to evaluate the relationships between canine and pediatric infections over space and time. This multi-modal and interdisciplinary approach aims to better understand antibiotic use in the face of growing resistance, as well as to identify high impact targets for antibiotic stewardship efforts. Sondra is also a Health Policy Research Scholar through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provides both funding and in-depth health policy training and mentorship to PhD Students.
Awards and Honors
-Health Policy Research Scholar Award from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2016)
-Phi Zeta induction (2014)
-Dean’s List (2012-2014)
-Phi Beta Kappa induction (2010)
(Sondra Calhoun Lavigne continued)
-Undergraduate Thesis nominated for Thomas T. Hoopes Prize (2010)
-A.B. Summa Cum Laude, Harvard University (2010)
Contact Information sondrac@mail.med.upenn.edu
Jeffrey Carey
Year of Entry: 2010
Graduate Group: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Research Interest: Jeffrey is broadly interested in cellular decision making, in particular how the decisions of individual microbial cells and the bacteriophages that parasitize them create community behaviors. He is also interested in environmental adaptation and evolution in microorganisms.
Jeffrey earned his PhD in 2018 in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Goulian. He is currently in vet clinical rotations and will earn his VMD in 2019.
Research
Jeffrey’s thesis research focused on the molecular basis and physiological significance of highly variable aerobic expression of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) reductase in Escherichia coli. TMAO reductase expression in the presence of oxygen exhibits extremely high cell-to-cell variability but is uniform in the absence of oxygen. Jeffrey’s work was directed toward uncovering the mechanism regulating the switch between uniform and variable expression, the consequences of this behavior on community fitness, and roles it might play in the context of host colonization. His research addressed these questions using genetic techniques, single-cell gene expression analysis, fluorescence microscopy, mouse colonization assays, fitness experiments, and computer simulations.
Awards and Honors
-P. Leslie Dutton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Publication, Penn Biochemistry & Biophysics (2018)
-Nigel Fraser Award for Excellence in Microbiology, Penn Microbiology (2018)
-Second Place Oral Presentation, Penn Phi Zeta Student Research Day (2017)
-Trainee, Microbial Pathogenesis and Genomics, NIH T32AI060516 (2015-16)
-Excellence in Genome Science Award, Penn Genome Frontiers Institute (2010-14)
-Dean’s List, Penn Veterinary Medicine (2010-13)
-Ed Hiestand Memorial Scholarship, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (2013)
-First Place Oral Presentation, Penn Phi Zeta Student Research Day (2012)
Contact Information careyj@vet.upenn.edu
Jaclyn Carlson
Year of Entry: 2016
Graduate Group: Bioengineering
Research Interest: Jaclyn’s research interests include orthopaedic biomechanics, focusing on the mechanical properties of tendon following injury. Additionally, she is interested in tissue engineering and potential veterinary clinical applications of this field.
Jaclyn is in her third year of the program and currently completing Bioengineering PhD coursework and preparing for her prelim exam.
Research
Currently Jaclyn is a graduate student in Lou Soslowsky’s lab in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory focusing on tendon injury, repair and regeneration. Previously Jaclyn worked at the University of California, San Francisco in the lab of Dr. Linda Noble, developing a model for concussion and examining acute and long-term behavioral effects and histology in adolescent ferrets. She has several papers published or in progress from her lab experience with Dr. Noble, including a chapter in the book Methods in Molecular Biology by Springer and a paper in Frontiers in Neurology. Jaclyn also worked in the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Black at Cornell University working on conformable structural bone graft substitutes
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s List, five semesters at Cornell University
-Order of Omega Honor Society
-Engineering Mentor
-Master of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University (2012)
Contact Information jaclynca@vet.upenn.edu
Megan Clark
Year of Entry: 2017
Graduate Group: Immunology
Research Interest: The intersection of metabolism and immunology, focusing on how changes in cellular and whole-body metabolism can impact the outcome of an immune response
Megan completed two years of Vet core before joining the VMD -PhD Program and now is currently performing thesis research in Dr. Jorge Henao-Meija’s laboratory.
Research
In the Henao-Mejia lab, Megan studies how changes in macrophage mitochondrial function can impact an immune response. Before joining the VMD-PhD program, Megan completed a yearlong fellowship with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Fellows program studying the formation of resident memory T cells during
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Leishmania infection with Dr. Phil Scott. Megan performed research in Dr. Robert Dyer’s laboratory at the University of Delaware where she characterized immune cell infiltrates in bovine adipose tissue. Megan also completed two summer NIH-Merial Scholar Program project during her time at PennVet. Her first summer, in Dr. Phil Scott’s lab at University of Pennsylvania, focused on examining the effects of metabolism on CD8 T cell effector function. In the second, she worked with Dr. Nicola Mason on optimization of ex vivo expanded canine T cells for adoptive immunotherapy
Awards and Honors
-NIH-Merial Summer Research Program (2015 & 2016)
-Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Fellowship (2016-2017)
-PennVet Annual Student Research Day Oral Presentation award, 1st place (March 2017)
Contact Information clarkmeg@vet.upenn.edu
Philip Hicks
Year of Entry: 2016
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology - Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Phillip is interested in viral pathogenesis and has studied various viruses in his rotations including Ebola, thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, and human papillomavirus.
Philip is in his third year of the program and currently completing CAMBMVP PhD course work and preparing to take his prelim exam.
Research
In 2014 Philip began as a laboratory specialist at the Penn Perelman School of Medicine in the laboratory of Dr. Anil K. Rustgi. The laboratory focused on malignancies of the gastroenterological system, including esophagus, small intestine, colon, and pancreas utilizing in vitro techniques and genetic mouse models. Philip has published six papers in Genes and Development, Molecular Cancer Research, and Cancer Research while working in Dr. Rustgi’s lab. While working as a student, Philip rotated in the labs of Dr. Ron Harty, Dr. Paul Bates, and Dr. Elizabeth White. Following his rotation with Dr. Harty, he published an article in Diseases, describing a novel interaction between Lassa fever virus protein Z and host protein BAG3.
Awards and Honors
-University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine Dean's list (2016 & 2017)
Contact Information hicksph@vet.upenn.edu
C. Emerson Hunter
Year of Entry: 2018
Graduate Group: Genomics and Computational Biology
Research Interest: Genomics
Emerson is a first-year student enrolled in veterinary core coursework. Moving forward, Emerson would like to study comparative genomics and epigenomics, as well as use computational methods to study disease mechanisms.
Research
Before joining the VMD-PhD Program, Emerson worked as a full-time Research Specialist in Dr. Anthony Chan’s laboratory at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center. There, she worked on gene and stem cell replacement therapy, bioinformatics, and embryo transfer procedures in transgenic Huntington’s disease mouse and monkey models.
Awards and Honors
-William H. Murdy Natural Science and Mathematics Award (2014)
-Curry T. Haynes Biology Award (2014)
-Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges (2014)
-Emory University Dean's List (2012-2016)
Contact Information cehunter@vet.upenn.edu
Monica Jimenez
Research
Year of Entry: 2015
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Genetics and Gene Regulation
Research Interest: Microbiota, host-commensal interactions, immunology, epigenetics, non-coding RNAs, gene regulation, and metabolism
Monica is currently working on thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Jorge Henao-Meija.
In the Henao-Mejia lab, Monica studies how the microbiome regulates metabolic homeostasis via microbiotaderived metabolites and non-coding regulatory RNAs. She rotated with Dr. Montserrat Anguera where she studied autoimmune diseases and characterized the effects of aging on X-inactivation in T cells. She also rotated with Dr. Michael Silverman at The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania where she studied the role of the gut epithelium in mediating host-commensal interactions which protected against type 1 diabetes. Before joining the VMD-PhD program, Monica completed a two-year post-baccalaureate NIH fellowship at the California National Primate Research Center in the labs of Dr. Lisa Miller and Dr. Jay Solnick studying the effects of the microbiome on asthma development, resulting in a co-first author publication. Monica also performed research in Dr. Craig Miller's laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley where she dissected the developmental genetics of evolved tooth gain in three-spined stickleback fish, where she earned authorships in PLOS Genetics and PNAS.
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Monica has also performed research in the Dominican Republic characterizing the seroprevalence of canine infectious diseases under the mentorship of Dr. James B. Lok.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s list, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2015-2017)
Research Interest: Elisabeth is interested in musculoskeletal research, specifically in tendon injury and healing mechanisms as well as genetic disease processes of muscle. She is interested in utlizing regenerative and stem cell approaches in animal models of orthopedic diseases to explore potential clinical interventions.
Elisabeth (Beth) is a first-year student enrolled in veterinary core coursework.
Research
Elisabeth has worked in Dr. Megan Killian’s laboratory at the University of Delaware studying tendon injury and healing in rotator cuff defect models. She also worked in Dr. Amy Biddle's lab at the University of Delaware to study the equine microbiome.
Awards and Honors
-University of Delaware Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2018) -University of Delaware Dean’s List 8 Semesters - Summa Cum Laude Graduate (2018) -NIH - INBRE Summer Research Scholar (2017) -NASA Delaware Space Grant Research Scholar (2017)
Contact Information elemmon@vet.upenn.edu
Suna Li
Year of Entry: 2015
Graduate Group: Neurosciences
Research Interest: Suna's research interests are in the circuits underlying sensation and behavior, neuroimmunology, and sensory diseases.
Suna is currently working on thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Wenquin Luo.
Research
Suna’s current work as a graduate student in Dr. Wenqin Luo’s lab focuses on understanding how pain and itch are processed by convergent and divergent pathways in the central nervous system, focusing on the lateral habenula (LHb). While the LHb’s role in processing the aversive component of pain sensation has been established, its role in itch processing has not yet been characterized. Her graduate work uses molecular biology techniques, mouse genetic tools, viral tracing, in vivo calcium imaging, and optogenetics to investigate the circuitry and function of the LHb in central pain and itch pathways.
Awards and Honors
-Hearst Foundation Fellowship (2018)
-Dean's List, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2016)
-International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management Foundation Award (2016)
Contact Information sunali@vet.upenn.edu
Pierce Nathanson
Research
Year of Entry: 2008
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Pierce is interested in the brain’s non-coding transcriptome and what happens when these important regulators of gene expression become dysregulated. He has focused on the role of small non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease, integrating genome-wide techniques with detailed biochemical analysis
Pierce is currently performing full-time thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Alice Chen-Plotkin and expects to enter clinics in spring 2019.
Pierce’s thesis research focuses on the nucleic acid binding properties of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), the major protein component of neuronal inclusions characterizing the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions (FTLD-TDP). To date, research has largely focused on TDP-43’s role as an RNA-binding protein and
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regulator of splicing. However, TDP-43 was originally identified as a transcription factor that bound the HIV1 trans-activation response (TAR) DNA element, repressing transcription. Using molecular, biochemical, and computational techniques, Pierce is investigating the extent and function of TDP -43 DNA binding. He has demonstrated that TDP-43 binds and regulates the genes of key splicing effectors, and that ALS-associated missense mutations in the gene encoding TDP-43, TARDBP, alter TDP-43 binding to these critical genes. This work suggests that the DNA-binding role of TDP-43 is important in health and in disease, and aberrant TDP-43 binding may alter splicing function in ALS and FTLD-TDP.
Awards and Honors (if any)
-Poster Presentation Award, 3rd place, Phi Zeta Student Research Day, University of Pennsylvania , School of Veterinary Medicine (2014)
-Poster Presentation Award, 2nd place, Phi Zeta Student Research Day, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (2013)
-Phi Zeta, Veterinary Honor Society, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (2012)
-Dean’s List, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (2008-2011)
Contact Information piercen@vet.upenn.edu nathanson.pierce@gmail.com
Elise Peauroi
Year of Entry: 2015
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Comparative pathology and infectious disease pathogenesis, particularly in understanding the dynamics of the immune response to infections
Elise is currently working on thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Laurence “Ike” Eisenlohr.
Research
Elise is studying how poxviruses interface with both the adaptive and innate immune response in the mouse model of Ectromelia virus infection. More specifically she is working to understand the effect of a viral immunomodulatory protein on the dynamics of viral spread and the course of the immun e response early in infection, and later in infection on the functionality of the CD4 T cell response.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s List, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2015-2016)
Contact Information epeauroi@vet.upenn.edu
Penkala, Ian
Research
Year of Entry: 2014
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology
Research Interest: Cellular fate decisions and communication
Ian is currently working on thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Edward Morrisey.
Ian is studying the development and maturation of the lung alveolar epithelium. The lung develops during the prenatal period and matures postnatally. He is interested in the mechanisms that specify the cell fate of the alveolar epithelium and how these mechanisms change over the course of maturation to produce a highly complex surface area for gas exchange. Additionally, injury during this phase of postnatal maturation is specifically harmful to the ongoing developmental processes. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of maturation will provide targeted approaches to both healing injury and restarting lung maturation in neonates with lung disease.
Awards and Honors
- F31 PA 16-309 (2018)
- Phi Zeta inductee (2017)
- Phi Zeta oral presentation award (2014), (2016)
- Dean's List, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2014-2016)
Contact Information ianpenk@vet.upenn.edu
Brinkley Raynor
Year of Entry: 2017
Graduate Group: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Interest: Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases and using models to prevent and minimize disease outbreaks
Brinkley is currently in the second year of the program and completing vet core coursework.
Research
Brinkley did her first summer rotation in the lab of Dr. Ricardo Castillo-Neyra working on spatio-temporal modeling of dog movement patterns in an urban setting. Specifically, she worked on how dog movement patterns could effect rabies control measures in Arequipa, Peru. Brinkley’s undergraduate research experiences include working in Dr. Cristina Lanzas laboratory at North Carolina State University where she investigated models for environmentally transmitted pathogens. She has two summer experiences with Drs. Tobias Oelshlaeger and Srikkanth Balasubramanian at the Institute of Molecular Infection Biology looking at inhibition of biofilms by supernatants of marine actinomycetes and with Dr. David Kurtz at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences researching GI klebsiella infections in a murine model.
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In addition, she has worked for a year with Dr. David Tarpy at NCSU on biomathematics of honeybee queen quality, where she worked with the university’s honeybee lab to grow queen bees in vit ro to study genetic effects on queen development.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s list, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2016-2017)
Contact Information bhraynor@vet.upenn.edu
Rebecca Rosenthal
Year of Entry: 2011
Graduate Group: Immunology
Research Interest: B cell development and function, particularly in how improved understanding of B cells can help us develop better vaccines and therapeutics for use in humans and animals
Rebecca is currently working on thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Cancro.
Research
T-bet+ B cells, also termed Age Associated B Cells (ABCs), are a newly described memory B cell subset that enlarges with age and is associated with both viral immunity and humoral autoimmunity. Following influe nza infection, antigen specific T-bet+ B cells are largely restricted to the spleen and are entirely absent from the draining lymph nodes. Rebecca’s research focuses on defining the anatomic localization and residency of Tbet+ B cells. Rebecca and a postdoctoral student in the Cancro lab have shown that influenza specific T -bet+ B cells are sessile splenic residents which fail to recirculate under basal conditions. Additionally, she is working on further defining T-bet+ B cells present at other tissue sites, such as those found in the gastrointestinal tract.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s list, School of Vet Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2011-2013) -T32 AI-055428
Contact Information rerose@vet.upenn.edu
Amanda Samuels
Research
Year of Entry: 2013
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Host-pathogen interactions, emerging infectious diseases
Amanda (Mandie) recently defended her thesis research in the lab of Dr. Rahul Kohli, and has now entered veterinary clinical rotations.
The ability of bacteria to adapt and survive in the face of environmental threats, including antibiotics, makes bacterial infections a significant health issue for human and veterinary medicine. Bacterial survival and adaptation is linked to the SOS response, but this intimate connection has been largely unexplored outside of culture-based methods. The goal of my work is to understand in a natural host how the SOS response contributes to bacteria colonization . The SOS response is controlled by a transcriptional repressor, LexA.To probe the role of the SOS response in mediating survival, fitness, and the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in vivo, E. coli strain MP1, a natural inhabitant of the murine gut will be used. Isogenic MP1 strains harboring an inactive LexA cleavage variant was engineered inorder to rigorously assess how modulating the SOS response influences colonization and virulence. Mandie will also use the MP1 model to systematically evaluate how the SOS response contributes to antibiotic resistance when the mice are treated with sub- therapeutic levels of an antibiotic.
Awards and Honors
-Deans List, School of Veterinary Medicine (2011-2012, 2012-2013)
Contact Information samuelsa@vet.upenn.edu
Ariel Shepley-McTaggart
Year of Entry: 2018
Graduate Group: Cellular and Molecular BiologyMicrobiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Viral mechanisms that determine host specificity, especially with a focus on highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses that infect both humans and our domestic animals.
Ariel completed two years of vet core courses before joining the combined degree program, and is currently completing graduate coursework, laboratory rotations, and preparing for her prelim exami nation.
Research
Ariel’s undergraduate research include working with Dr. James Gregory at Mt. Sinai Hospital studying immunotherapy using algal-produced recombinant peanut protein to suppress peanut allergy. She has also worked with Dr. Hemali Phatani at Columbia University at the Maniatis Laboratory investigating gene expression and role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) signaling pathway in glia-neuron interactions
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in murine models of Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Ariel also worked in Dr. Beatrice Hahn lab as part of the NIH-BI Summer Research Program studying the Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in wild chimpanzees in the summer of 2018.
Awards and Honors
-Rawnsley Endowed Scholarship recipient (2018)
-NIH-BI Summer Research Program (2017 & 2018)
-Opportunity Scholarship recipient (2017)
-Dean’s list (2016-2017 & 2017-2018)
-Sono Osato Scholarship for Graduate Studies recipient (2016)
Contact Information arielsh@vet.upenn.edu
Year of Entry: 2016
Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Research Interest: Nate is interested in “bench-to-bedside” research of comparative neuro-psycho-behavioral disorders (shared by human and nonhuman mammals), with an emphasis on how psychosocial stress may influence underlying disease mechanisms.
Nathaniel is currently working on thesis research in the lab of Drs. Ethan Goldberg and Stuart Anderson.
Research
The goal of Nate's thesis research is to utilize stem cell-derived inhibitory interneuron transplants as a novel therapy for a devastating pediatric epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome. By growing these specialized types of neurons in a dish and then transplanting them into epileptogenic brain regions of a genetic mouse model of Dravet Syndrome, Nate is able to use in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetics and electrophysiology to dissect neural circuit-level mechanisms underlying the disease.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s list, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2013-2016)
-Wood Foundation Scholarship
-Phi Zeta best combined degree presentation (2017)
-F31 NRSA award (2018-2021)
Contact Information sotuyo@vet.upenn.edu
Nathaniel Sotuyo
Gregory Sousa
Year of Entry: 2014
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Vector Biology, Emerging Infectious Diseases
Gregory is currently working on thesis research in the lab of Dr. Michael Povelones.
Research
Gregory’s research is focused on understanding an arm of the mosquito immune response known as melanization. The melanization response occurs in all arthropods and kills microbes by coating them with the pigment melanin. Melanization is regulated by a hierarchical network of serine proteases, which contain arthropod specific CLIP domains and are divided into multi-member subfamilies (CLIPA-E). Exposure to microbial patterns and/or microbial-derived proteases results in the activation of a member of the CLIPC group. Active CLIPCs typically cleave and activate members of the CLIPB family, which function as terminal proteases. Active CLIPBs then drive melanin production by activating phenoloxidase, which is the ratelimiting melanization enzyme. Much of our understanding of CLIP domain serine protease networks comes from work done in classic insect models with less detail known in mosquitoes. To address this knowledge gap, Gregory’s work seeks to be the first identification of a CLIPC participating in the melanization immune response in the mosquito. He has evidence that CLIPC9 is required for the melanization of bacteria and Plasmodium parasites. Furthermore, his data suggests that CLIPC9 silencing may alter the utilization or localization of a phenoloxidase hypothesized to be required for microbial melanization. Mechanistic studie s are on-going to understand the contributions of CLIPC9 in antimicrobial defense in this disease vector.
Awards and Honors
-Phi Zeta Student Research Day, Second Place (2018)
-Dean’s list, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2014-2015, 2015-2016)
Contact Information gsousa@vet.upenn.edu
Elinor Willis
Year of Entry: 2011
Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology – Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology
Research Interest: Infant immune responses to viral infection and vaccination
Elinor earned her PhD in 2018 in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Hensley. She is now in veterinary clinical rotations and will earn her VMD in the coming year.
Research
Elinor’s thesis examines the effects of prior exposure on antiviral immune responses. Her main project focuses on the effects of maternal antibodies (matAbs) on neonatal immune responses to influenza and flaviviruses. Elinor has developed a mouse model for the effects of influenza virus-specific matAbs on neonatal and infant mice and has found that matAbs inhibit neonatal immune responses to conventional vaccines, but this inhibition can be circumvented by a novel mRNA-based vaccine. Unlike conventional vaccines, this vaccine
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persistently elicits germinal center responses in the presence of matAbs. Elinor has also extended her matAb mouse model to investigate the effects of dengue and Zika virus-specific matAbs on Zika virus infection of fetal and infant mice. Elinor also has a related project on cross-reactivity and protection by canine H3N8 vaccine against canine H3N2 virus that resulted in a publication.
Awards and Honors
-Dean's List, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2012-2013)
-Phi Zeta Award (2014)
Contact Information elwill@vet.upenn.edu
Ashley Vanderbeck
Year of Entry: 2016
Graduate Group: Immunology
Research Interest: T cell development, T cell activation and differentiation, and hematopoiesis
Ashley is in her third year of the program and currently completing Immunology PhD course work. She is preparing to take her formal preliminary exam in May.
Research
Ashley received her BS from Haverford College, majoring in Biology and Philosophy. At Haverford, she studied the binding kinetics of novel calmodulin target proteins in the laboratory of Dr. Karin Akerfeldt. Her interest in immune cell development began in the laboratory of Dr. Jennifer Punt where she investigated the role of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 in the regulation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell fate for her senior thesis project. She continued this work as a research technician for Dr. Jennifer Punt and Dr. Stephen Emerson at Columbia University Medical Center. Having spent the last two years in veterinary school, she is excited to return to the lab and continue studying the development and differentiation of lymphocytes.
Awards and Honors
-Dean’s list, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2016-2017 & 2017-2018)
Contact Information avande@vet.upenn.edu
Xiaoyue (Sherrie) Xie
Awards and Honors
Year of Entry: 2013
Graduate Group: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Interest: Public health informatics, environmental epidemiology, and geospatial methods
Sherrie is currently working on thesis research in the lab Dr. Blanca Himes.
Research
Sherrie is advancing a novel method to integrate electronic health recordderived data with geospatial information on socioeconomic status, crime, tree cover, and air pollution in a study of asthma exacerbations in Philadelphia.
-F31 Predoctoral NRSA, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, 2018-2020
-Institute of Biomedical Informatics Pre-Doctoral Collaboration Fellowship, U of Pennsylvania, 2017
-Finalist, Marco Ramoni Distinguished Paper Award for Translational Bioinformatics, AMIA Joint Summits for Translational Science, San Francisco, CA, 2017
-Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society, 2016
-First Place Poster, Phi Zeta Veterinary Research Symposium, U of Pennsylvania, 2015
-Dean's List, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 2013-2016
