Top Researcher in Nanomedicine to Speak at Oklahoma State’s Veterinary Center

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Mark W. Dewhirst, DVM, PhD, is one of the top researchers in the field of nanomedicine.  He is known for developing the thermally sensitive liposome that was translated to clinical trials.  Dewhirst will present “Exercise Oncology and Heat Sensitive Liposomes” on Monday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m. in the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, McElroy Hall Auditorium located at the corner of McFarland and West Farm Road.  The research seminar is open to the public at no charge.

Dewhirst is the Gustavo S. Montana Professor of Radiation Oncology and Vice Director for Basic Science in the Duke Cancer Institute.  His research interests include tumor hypoxia, angiogenesis, hyperthermia and drug transport.  Dewhirst has spent 30 years studying causes of tumor hypoxia and the use of hyperthermia to treat cancer.  In collaboration with Professor David Needham in the Pratt School of Engineering, he developed a novel thermally sensitive drug carrying liposome that has been successfully translated to human clinical trials.

Dewhirst was named a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  He has received numerous other awards recognizing his work in the field. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1971 with a degree in Chemistry.  He earned his DVM and PhD degrees from Colorado State University in 1975 and 1979 respectively.

The research seminar is sponsored by the office of Research and Graduate Education and the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Ashish Ranjan, PhD, assistant professor of Physiological Sciences at the veterinary center, is hosting the presentation. For additional information, please contact him at ashish.ranjan@okstate.edu.