New head of veterinary oncology for school
The University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has appointed Jessica Lawrence its new head of clinical oncology.
Dr Lawrence joins the school from the University of Georgia, where she was assistant professor of small animal oncology. She has completed training in both radiation and medical oncology.
The £3 million Riddell Swan Cancer Care Centre opened three years ago, and provides cutting-edge treatment for animals. It is the translational arm of the school's strong cancer research portfolio.
Dr Lawrence said: "If you look at human medicine, radiation therapy plays a massive role as both a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other therapy. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation is targeted at specific parts of the body so can avoid damaging healthy tissue.
"Our main aim, when providing treatment, is to ensure animals have the best quality of life possible. Radiotherapy, even in the sense of palliative care, also has a huge role to play in the management of chronic disease.”
Studying how drugs, combined with radiotherapy, can improve response rates to treatment, and optimise radiation delivery to ensure normal tissue is spared, is one of Dr Lawrence's main areas of research interest.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
