Titles and Education

1. Residency in Medical Oncology, Colorado State University
2. M.S. in Comparative Oncology, Colorado State University
3. D.V.M., University of Sasckatchewan

4. B.Sc. in Pathogenic Microbiology, University of Alberta

Research

Dr. Vail has over thirty years’ experience designing and implementing comparative oncology clinical trials in companion (pet) dogs with cancer. His laboratory’s research involves both basic comparative oncology and comparative oncology clinical trials. Information obtained from these clinical trials provide data to inform ongoing or planned human clinical trials, drug development programs for animal health, as well as generating information serving to enhance our basic understanding of tumor biology and cancer target identification and therapy. His clinical trials often involve advanced imaging (PET/CT, PET/MR) and serial biospecimen collections as clinical correlates for investigating the combination of immunotherapy and radiation therapy that seek to advance anti-tumor immune responses. He currently has funding from the National Cancer Institute/NIH, Veterans Administration, Morris Animal Foundation, and the Open Philanthropy Project. Ongoing trials are investigating targeted radionuclide therapy, liposomal/nanoparticle therapeutics, theranostic/diagnostic technologies, and anti-cancer vaccines.

Responsibilities

The bulk of Dr. Vail's current efforts involve veterinary and comparative clinical research, currently serving as PI or Co-investigator for comparative oncology clinical trials at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and the UW Carbone Cancer Center. He oversee the Barbara A. Surin Comparative Research Institute at the SVM.

Clinical Interests

Currently, Dr. Vail’s clinical interests are concentrated around the design and implementation of comparative oncology clinical trials investigating novel anticancer therapies in companion (pet) dogs and cats.

Graduate Training

Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery (CSU), Residency in Medical Oncology (CSU), Master of Science (medical oncology - CSU)

Recent Publications

1. Kara Magee, Ian R. Marsh, Michelle M. Turek, Joseph Grudzinski, Eduardo Aluicio-Sarduy, Jonathan W. Engle, Ilene D. Kurzman, Cindy L. Zuleger, Elizabeth A. Oseid, Christine Jaskowiak, Mark R. Albertini, Bryan Bednarz, Paul M. Sondel, Jamey P. Weichert, Zachary S. Morris, Reinier Hernandez, David M. Vail. Safety and feasibility of an in situ vaccination and immunomodulatory targeted radionuclide combination immuno-radiotherapy approach in a comparative (companion dog) setting. PLoS ONE 1,2021;6(8): e0255798. https://doi.
   org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255798.
2. Patel R, Hernandez R, Carlson P, Grudinski J, Bates A, Jagodinski J, Erbe A, Marsh I, Aluicio-Sarduy PE, Rakhmilevich A, Vail DM, Engle J, Kim K, Bednarz B, Sondel P, Weichert J, Zachary Morris. Low-dose targeted radionuclide therapy renders immunologically cold tumors responsive to immune checkpoint blockade. Sci Transl Med 2021;13: eabb3631
3. Vail DM, LeBlanc AK, and Jeraj R. Advanced cancer imaging applied in the comparative setting. Frontiers in Oncology 2020 10:84. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00084
4. Vail DM, von Euler H, et al. A randomized trial investigating the efficacy and safety of water soluble paclitaxel (Paccal® Vet) for treatment of nonresectable grade 2 or 3 mast cell tumors in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2012 Mar 6. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00897.x. [Epub ahead of print].
5. Vail DM, Husbands BD, Kamerling SG, et al. Phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities of oral idarubicin in dogs with lymphoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2012 Mar 9. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00896.x. [Epub ahead of print].
6. Chon E, McCartan L, Kubicek LN, Vail DM. Safety evaluation of combination toceranib phosphate (Palladia®) and piroxicam in tumor-bearing dogs (excluding mast cell tumors): a Phase I dose-finding study. Vet Comp Oncol. 2011 Mar 21. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2011.00265.x. [Epub ahead of print].
7. Robat C, London C, Bunting L, McCartan L, Stingle N, Selting K, Kurzman I, Vail DM. Safety Evaluation of Combination Vinblastine and Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia®) in Dogs: a Phase I dose-finding study. Vet Comp Oncol. 2011 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2011.00261.x. [Epub ahead of print].
8. Vail DM, Michels GM, Khanna C, Selting KA, London CS, and the Veterinary Co-operative Oncology Group. Response Evaluation Criteria For Peripheral Nodal Lymphoma in Dogs (v1.0) - A Veterinary Co-operative Oncology Group (VCOG) Consensus Document. Vet Comp Oncol 8(1):28-37, 2010.
9. Thamm DH, Kurzman ID, Clark MA, Ehrhart EJ, Kraft SL, Gustafson DL, Vail DM. Preclinical Investigation of PEGylated Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors: Phase I Evaluation. Clin Cancer Res 16(5):1498-508, 2010.
10. Lawrence J, Vanderhoek M, Barbee D. Jeraj R, Tumas DB, Vail DM. Use of 3’-deox 3’-[18F]Fluorothymidine PET/CT for evaluating response to cytotoxic chemotherapy in dogs with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Vet Rad Ultrasound 50(6):660-668, 2009.