In a small but meaningful celebration, the Stuart Presidential Chair in Oncology passed from Dr. Susan Lana, the director of CSU’s Robert H. and Mary G. Flint Animal Cancer Center (FACC), to Dr. Douglas Thamm, oncology professor and director of clinical research at the FACC. The chair was first held by Dr. Stephen Withrow, the founding director of the Center.
Colorado State University awards University Chairs to a select group of faculty members in recognition of their exceptional scholarship and excellence in teaching and research, making it one of the institution’s highest distinctions.
This chair was originally conferred as the Stuart University Chair in Oncology by the late E. Hadley Stuart, Jr. in 2001. Stuart was a long-time advocate and benefactor of the FACC. This chair was the first endowed chair in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
In 2024, Stuart’s daughter, Nan Stuart, a strong supporter of the FACC in her own right, expressed her interest in moving the chair to the presidential level. The title of Presidential Chair is the highest and most prestigious chair honor CSU may award to a faculty member. With Stuart’s additional support, the chair is now known as the Stuart Presidential Chair in Oncology.
This endowment will support research, equipment, and programmatic infrastructure for Thamm’s Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory. His research centers on the characterization of important therapeutic targets in human oncology in spontaneous tumors of animal species sharing the environment with people, e.g., dogs and cats. Through the implementation of pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically intensive animal clinical trials, his laboratory seeks to provide meaningful translational information to inform and develop novel therapies with the potential to impact the treatment of human and animal cancers. His current work focuses on tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase signaling, validation of biomarkers for novel therapeutics, and targeted therapy to enhance chemosensitivity.
“Hadley Stuart – and his children, Nan and Brett – had the foresight and generosity to establish and then grow the Stuart Chair in Oncology,” said Withrow. “The latest recipient, Dr. Doug Thamm, exemplifies the qualities Hadley valued most: integrity, compassion, clinical excellence, scientific curiosity, and a deep commitment to comparative oncology. Support from the Chair empowers Dr. Thamm to fully pursue groundbreaking research that advances cancer treatment across species.”
When Dr. Lana was named director of the FACC in October 2024, she moved to the Stephen J. Withrow Presidential Chair in Oncology, leaving the Stuart Chair vacant. In evaluating the next holder of the Stuart Chair, FACC leadership felt it was essential to uphold its original purpose: recognizing excellence in patient care and a deep understanding of the true meaning of compassionate care.
“It was crucial to choose someone who truly reflects the values of vision, integrity, and passion that have defined this Chair and the work of the FACC. We unanimously agreed that Dr. Thamm is a remarkable and well-deserving recipient,” said Lana. “We are fortunate to have him on our team caring for patients, researching new cancer therapies, and living out the values that Hadley [Stuart] set forth years ago.”
“It is an honor to be named the Stuart Presidential Chair in Oncology, and I can’t thank the Stuart family enough for their continued support. I am standing on the shoulders of giants, continuing the legacy of the previous chair holders, Drs. Steve Withrow and Sue Lana, who have been so integral to the success of the FACC. I will continue their legacy of leadership and scientific and clinical expertise,” said Thamm.
Thamm serves as the Director of Clinical Research at the FACC, bridging the gap between benchtop research and clinical trials in patient-owned pets. He also serves in a clinical role, teaching future veterinary oncologists and treating patients.
He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and 25 book chapters in veterinary and basic cancer research, is Co-Editor for the most recent edition of the textbook Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology, and is Editor-In-Chief of the journal Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. Dr. Thamm is the current President of the Veterinary Cancer Society and the 2023 recipient of the Alan Kelly International Prize in Canine Health from The Kennel Club.
Thamm led the innovative Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study (VACCS) at Colorado State University, a pioneering clinical trial testing a first-of-its-kind preventive cancer vaccine. The vaccine is designed to train the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells by targeting unique frameshift peptides (FSPs) present on those cells. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of California, Davis, and coordinated by Calviri, the trial has recently concluded and is now awaiting publication of its final results on the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in reducing cancer incidence.