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Located in Roanoke, Virginia, the Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center is a comprehensive cancer care and clinical research center offering integrated services, including medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, and frontline cancer diagnostics and treatment for dogs and cats.

Oncology Services

The Comparative Oncology Research Laboratory is housed at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center at the Roanoke Virginia Tech campus, and includes clinician scientists and researchers who embrace the One Health concept to improve cancer outcomes for veterinary and human patients.The overall goal of my research is to improve cancer outcomes for veterinary and human patients via tumor ablation and immunotherapy. Specifically, our research team investigates the use of two non-thermal tumor ablation techniques – histotripsy and high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE). Our research focuses on developing histotripsy as a tumor ablation modality for the primary tumor in osteosarcoma, and on developing H-FIRE as a tumor ablation modality for metastatic tumors in osteosarcoma. Additionally, our research also evaluates the immune response after histotripsy and H-FIRE ablation of tumors. Our research team utilizes veterinary clinical trials, preclinical models and in-vitro systems to explore the ablative and immunomodulatory effects of histotripsy and H-FIRE.Additionally, I work in partnership with other researchers at Virginia Tech and at the Duke Cancer Institute with expertise in orthopedic and computational mechanobiology, comparative pathobiology, immunology, comparative oncology, cancer and evolutionary biology.Joanne Tuohy, DVM, PhDAssistant ProfessorSurgical OncologyDepartment of Small Animal Clinical SciencesThe strength of the dog as a comparative oncology model in osteosarcoma enables our veterinary clinical trial work to inform future studies focusing on developing histotripsy for human osteosarcoma patients.

▪︎  Cancer diagnostics and staging
▪︎  Chemotherapy treatment
▪︎  Targeted therapy and immunotherapy
▪︎  Surgical treatment
▪︎  Radiation therapy, including stereotactic radiotherapy
▪︎  Clinical trials

Integrated Cancer Care

Bambi an oncology patient involved in a clinical trial at the ACCRC in Roanoke

▪︎   The Animal Cancer Center is a center of excellence for comprehensive animal cancer care, research, and learning. Patients visit one location for a range of services, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and advanced diagnostic imaging. The new, 16,000-square-foot, purpose-built space adheres to the highest safety standards for administering chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
▪︎   The center treats all types of veterinary cancer; in addition, opportunities for dogs and cats to be enrolled in clinical research trials will be offered to pet owners.
▪︎   A $3.28 million linear accelerator positions the center as the region’s only radiation oncology service for pets.
▪︎   The center's imaging capabilities provide valuable insights to a team of veterinarians, biomedical engineers, and human medical researchers in the fight against cancerous tumors that are common to both dogs and people.
▪︎   Clinical services are integrated with translational research and health sciences degree programs involving the veterinary college and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, immersing students in a best-in-class, multidisciplinary learning environment.

About the Center

Virginia Tech's Animal Cancer Care and Research Center

The Animal Cancer Care and Research Center is seeking licensed veterinary technicians and qualified, non-licensed candidates to fill multiple full- and part-time patient care positions. To apply, visit​ ​jobs.vt.edu​ and filter search results for jobs in the Roanoke area. For more information, contact the Animal Cancer Center at accrc@vt.edu.

A state-of-the-art clinical and research facility representing hope for a brighter future in cancer care, Virginia Tech's Animal Cancer Care and Research Center is housed in the 139,000-gross-square-foot Virginia Tech Carilion Biomedical Research Addition in Roanoke, Virginia.

Demonstrating the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine's commitment to working across disciplines to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment, the new center is a vital part of the Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) Health Sciences Campus, adjacent to the VTC School of Medicine.

The center, which accommodated the relocation and expansion of the oncology service from the college's Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Blacksburg, capitalizes on a strikingly rare opportunity to integrate researchers investigating human and veterinary biomedical interests that seek to advance cancer treatment in pets and people alike.

Help us defeat cancer

To discuss how your gift can make an impact on the future of cancer care and research, contact Maggie Meikle, associate director of development for major gifts, at mjmeikle@vt.edu or 540-231-4259.

Two veterinary professionals examining a dog.