Susan Volk

Susan Volk VMD, PhD, DACVS is the Corinne R and Henry Bower Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. As a veterinary surgeon-scientist, she is interested in developing innovative translational strategies which close clinical gaps in patient care, particularly when “the scalpel doesn’t cut it.” Her research program focuses 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 government, private foundation, and industry-sponsored research have basic and translational components, including clinical trials in veterinary patients.