Winter 2008 - University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

faculty and staff newsfaculty and staff newsJaime Modiano joins Collegeas Al and June PerlmanEndowed Oncology ChairJaime Modiano, V.M.D., Ph.D., joined the College in July as the Al and June PerlmanEndowed Oncology Chair and director of the Veterinary Medical Center’s AnimalCancer Center. Modiano leads the College’s comparative cancer research program,which ultimately seeks to develop effective strategies for cancer prevention and treatmentby integrating knowledge gained from studies of cancer in people and animals.“Comparative medicine is an important part of researchefforts at the University of Minnesota,” says RobertWashabau, chair of the Veterinary Clinical SciencesDepartment. “The research directed by Dr. Modianowill support that program by benefiting both animals andhumans.”“I am extremely pleased that Dr. Modiano has joined ourfaculty,” says Trevor Ames, interim dean. “He has the experience,commitment, and know-how to help the Collegebecome a world leader in comparative cancer research.”Jaime Modiano Cancer accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over10 years of age, and each case requires individual treatment.“Dr. Modiano’s research will expand the types of treatments available to effectivelytreat cancer through his discoveries of new knowledge,” Ames adds.Modiano was previously associate professor of immunology and full member of theCancer Center at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and seniorscientist at the AMC Cancer Center in Denver, Colorado. His research focuses oncontrol of activation and signaling in cells of the immune system, the genetic basisof cancer, and cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy.Modiano completed his veterinary and Ph.D. training in immunology at theUniversity of Pennsylvania, followed by a residency in veterinary clinical pathologyat Colorado State University and a post-doctoral fellowship at the National JewishCenter for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver, Colo. He was assistantprofessor of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University from 1995 to1999 and joined the AMC Cancer Center in 1999. He has co-authored more than150 scientific manuscripts, presentations, and book chapters on various aspects ofimmunology, cancer cell biology, the genetic basis of cancer, and applications ofgene therapy.“Recruitment of Dr. Modiano to the University of Minnesota builds a bridge betweenthe Medical School’s Cancer Center and the College of Veterinary Medicine, providingthe critical link needed in the area of comparative cancer research that willbenefit both animals and humans,” says Tucker LeBien, associate director of basicresearch at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center.New advancementmodel mergesdevelopment, alumniaffairs, continuingeducation, andcommunicationsTo build and strengthen relationshipswith the diverse constituenciesthat provide support, the Collegeof Veterinary Medicine has adoptedan advancement model combiningdevelopment, alumni affairs, continuingeducation, and communicationsstaff. Sharon Staton has joined theCollege as director of advancement,a new position that provides strategicleadership for the integrated team.Staton works with the Universityof Minnesota Foundation to engagethe resources of the private sectorto build and sustain excellence at theCollege.“I am very excited to be workingfor the College to enhance relationshipswith alumni, friends, corporations,and foundations and increasephilanthropic support to sustainour research, teaching, and serviceefforts,” she says.Brian T. Graves joined the advancementteam in January as communicationsmanager. His backgroundincludes the development and executionof integrated communications,sales, and marketing plans and strategicpartnerships in support of publicrelations, marketing, and fund-raisinginitiatives. He earned his master’sdegree in journalism from theUniversity of Iowa and his bachelor’sdegree in public relations from theUniversity of Northern Iowa.17