Susan Volk VMD, PhD, DACVS is an Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery (with tenure) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. As a veterinary surgeon-scientist, her laboratory is focused on developing innovative strategies through basic science discoveries which close clinical gaps in patient care, particularly when “the scalpel doesn’t cut it.” She has developed a research program focused on understanding dynamic reciprocity between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix in both regenerative and tumor microenvironments.
The success of her program capitalizes on her ability to lead a cross-disciplinary collaborative team capable of efficiently developing novel therapies for surgical and cancer patients, including her patented approach to reengineering the tumor microenvironment. This NIH, private foundation, and industry-sponsored research has basic and translational components, including clinical trials in veterinary patients.