Treating cancer is not enough. We’re on a mission to conquer cancer in all species and, to make this a reality, we have to start at the cellular level.
For more than 40 years, the Robert H. and Mary G. Flint Animal Cancer Center has been at the forefront of understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cancer biology, disease diagnosis, and the development of effective therapies. Our focus is on comparative oncology to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in people and pets.
This work is complex, fascinating, and at times, maddening. Our research team includes 13 labs, all studying cancer from a wide range of angles. Together, we’ve made great progress in the fight against cancer, but there is still a long way to go.
This is why we’ve heavily invested in the future of cancer research – the next generation. We participate in the long-standing and successful Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, designed to train future cancer researchers. To date, we’ve graduated more than twenty Ph.D. researchers who now work in academic and industry organizations around the world. It’s impossible to calculate the collective impact this group of trailblazers has had on the fight against cancer, but it’s significant.
The path Ph.D. students take varies greatly by their program type and individual research projects. On average, a Ph.D. takes upward of five years and includes rigorous research and classwork. By the end of the program, students must demonstrate that they’ve completed a substantial research project and have a deep understanding of their area of study.
Here at the FACC, Ph.D. students have chosen to specialize in cancer research. Students rotate through labs before choosing one to call home for the remainder of their program. Their committee helps students determine a viable project, course of study, and pathway. Most of our FACC labs have Ph.D. students currently working toward completing the program.
Some students who call the FACC home get to participate in clinical trials. This gives students a unique hands-on experience, something not all have access to. This highly competitive program allows students to collaborate across disciplines and gain the skills to fight cancer.
Read on for interviews with FACC Ph.D. students in various stages of the process.
LAUREL HAINES, DVM STUDENT/Ph.D. CANDIDATE
Laurel Haines is a DVM/Ph.D. student working in the Regan Lab. This eight-year program combines a veterinary degree with a Ph.D. She is halfway done with vet school and will complete her Ph.D. this year. Following her defense, she will complete the remaining two years of her DVM.
Why did you choose a combined program? “Medicine has interested me since my childhood, and I realized that by combining research with medicine, I can make an even greater impact on patient lives. CSU has a great reputation, and the collaborative environment was a major draw.”
Why are you interested in cancer research? “When it comes to cancer, it fascinates me how people and pets can experience some of the same cancers. I want to make an impact where I can because it truly can affect everyone.”
What is your Ph.D. project? “I am working on understanding the early stages of osteosarcoma metastasis to the lungs. My project investigates factors that cause the original tumor to spread and how to target them to stop or slow metastasis. It took a lot of effort to develop techniques to study this, but over the past year, I have had very exciting findings.”
RACHEL BRADY, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)/Ph.D. CANDIDATE
Dr. Rachel Brady is a veterinary oncologist. Motivated to better understand cancer biology, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. at CSU in the Thamm Lab. Brady will finish her Ph.D. in Spring 2025.
Why did you choose to do a Ph.D.? “In the clinic, I provide personalized care to each patient and family. In the lab, I can work on broader problems that could help more patients. I love both aspects.”
Why are you interested in cancer research? “Cancer is such a universal experience. Everyone has been touched by cancer or knows someone who has been. There is also so much room for improved treatments. I am motivated to make an impact in this field.”
What is your Ph.D. project? “I am working in the immune environment around the tumor, specifically on cells called macrophages. You can’t just focus on the tumor itself, you also have to worry about the immune cells – macrophages – that convert to support the growth of the tumor. I am working on a clinical trial for a new drug that targets macrophages. It’s been really exciting to see progress!”
What do you see yourself doing in the future? “After I complete my Ph.D., I will work in academia. I will see patients in the clinic and manage a lab. I will continue working on macrophages.”
SAM BRILL, Ph.D., POSTDOC/DVM STUDENT
Sam Brill, Ph.D. is a member of the DVM/Ph.D. program. He’s completed the Ph.D. portion and is finishing the final two years of his DVM. He is a postdoctoral researcher (post-Ph.D. research) in the Thamm Lab.
Why did you choose to earn a Ph.D.? “I really enjoy research. I am motivated by the comparative aspect of what we do – helping people and pets. Doing a DVM/Ph.D. helps me understand both sides.”
Why are you interested in cancer research? “Using dogs as a comparative model is fascinating work, and there is so much potential to make a difference for people and pets.”
What is your Ph.D. project? “I’m studying CAR T cells as a treatment for lymphoma. I finished my Ph.D. work, but there is more I wanted to study, which is why I’m now doing a postdoc. Our goal is to have the therapy ready for trials with dogs by Summer 2025.”
What do you see yourself doing in the future? “I am in my third year of vet school. After my DVM, I hope to continue my research in some capacity and treat patients.”
KATE WILLIAMS, DVM STUDENT/Ph.D. CANDIDATE
Kate Williams is a DVM/Ph.D. student in the Ehrhart Lab. She will finish her Ph.D. work in Spring 2025 and will then return to vet school to finish her DVM.
Why did you choose to earn a Ph.D.? “I am really interested in the translational applications when you have both degrees. If you just have clinical experience, you don’t have the background to develop new treatments, but if you are just in research, you would struggle with clinical application. Having both gives me more experience to make an impact.”
Why are you interested in cancer research? “I am interested in work that improves people’s lives. I really think this kind of work makes a big difference for people and their ability to heal.”
What is your Ph.D. project? “I am working on therapeutics to promote muscle healing after surgery or injury. Cells release special particles after injury. I’m looking for a way to increase these particles so we can inject them back into the surgery site to help people and pets heal faster. For cancer, better healing after surgery can make a huge difference for patients.”
What do you see yourself doing in the future? “After I complete my Ph.D., I will finish my DVM. After that, I hope to stay in research and continue this work.”
KLAUDIA POPLAWSKI, Ph.D. STUDENT
Klaudia Poplawski is a second-year Ph.D. student who has recently declared a research home in the Gustafason Lab. In Fall 2025, she will take her Ph.D. prelims, a process by which she will declare her research project, and her faculty committee will authorize her to begin research.
Why did you choose to earn a Ph.D.? “I have always liked research, and I knew I wanted to further my understanding and experience. A Ph.D. program was the next logical step.”
Why are you interested in cancer research? “I really like mysteries. In fact, at one point, I wanted to be a crime scene analyst. Cancer is full of mysteries, and I’m fascinated trying to unravel it.”
Do you have an idea what your project will be? “Not yet. I’m still in the beginning stages. I am doing some smaller studies looking at drugs that target molecules related to DNA repair. I think my Ph.D. project will fall somewhere along those lines. I will likely take my prelims in October, and by then, my project will be defined.”
What do you see yourself doing in the future? “I still have several years of coursework ahead of me, but after I finish my Ph.D., I plan to stay in cancer research in some capacity. We still have a big mystery to solve.”
As many as one in four humans and pets will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Research is our best line of defense for new diagnostics, early detection, and better treatments for cancer in all species. Cancer research at the FACC – in collaboration with institutions around the world – is needed now more than ever. This new generation of smart, dedicated, and creative researchers will have a lasting impact on the fight against cancer research, and we’re proud to be part of their journey.