News

Stanford Comparative Medicine at NCB-AALAS 32nd Annual Symposium

Rina Barouch-Bentov and Brittany Accetturo

ACLAM Residents with Joseph Garner, DPhil at NCB-AALAS


Claude Nagamine, DVM, PhD

Lisa Bandini and Sonja Goedde


Christine Goodermuth, BS

Rina Barouch-Bentov

Kenzie Schwartz, DVM

Jerome Geronimo, 
Danielle F.F. Amonoy, and Sergio Koba

Congratulations to Anna S. Ratuski1, Joanna N. Baker2, Joseph P. Garner1 for their poster that Bio-X judges selected to win a recognition award!

The poster session was held on August 29, 2024, at the Clark Center. Way to represent!

Departments of Comparative Medicine1 and Biology2, Stanford University

Faculty News

Dr. Joseph Garner Appointed to the AALAS Scientific Advisory Committee

We are thrilled to announce that the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) has selected Dr. Joseph Garner to be a member of its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which oversees the Grants for Laboratory Animal Science Program. Dr. Garner’s term on the SAC begins on November 8, 2024, and ends on October 21, 2027, at the close of the 2027 AALAS National Meeting.

The SAC directs the development, implementation, and maintenance of program procedures and grant priorities, as well as develops programs to enhance the quality and breadth of science at the AALAS National Meeting. The SAC encourages the scientific development of young investigators in comparative medicine and laboratory animal science. The SAC provides guidelines and advice to the leadership on matters relevant to the priorities and quality of the scientific and educational missions of AALAS. It develops recommendations, positions, and guidelines for science and science policy on behalf of AALAS for review and approval from the AALAS Board of Trustees.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Garner on this achievement. His selection to this role is a testament to his expertise and dedication to advancing the field of laboratory animal science. We look forward to the valuable contributions he will undoubtedly make while serving on the AALAS SAC.

Faculty News

Megan Albertelli, DVM, PhD was featured in Stanford Medicine's News Center.  The piece highlights her leading  Comparative Medicine, and her contributions to Stanford.   For more information about Megan Albertelli's appointment, please visit the full article on the Stanford Medicine News Center here.

Welcome New ACLAM Residents

The Department of Comparative Medicine is delighted to announce the postdoctoral appointments of two new Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) Residents, Dr. Tyler Lavender and Dr. Sophie Russell. Their appointments began on July 1, 2024.

Dr. Lavender earned his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Veterinary Medicine, where he also earned a Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) Certification. Additionally, he holds an MPH degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Sophie Russell earned her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts, West Indies. She spent her clinical year at Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Russell was the attending veterinarian for an independent contract laboratory serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries and has vast experience in equine veterinary medicine.

Please join us in welcoming them to Stanford and Comparative Medicine.

Department and MLAS News

Under the leadership of Dr. José Vilches-Moure, Stanford trainees [a Fellow in the Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM), Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) Candidates, and Stanford Undergraduates] showcased a series of impressive presentations at the 2024 Annual West Coast Veterinary Pathology (WCVP) Conference. This annual conference is organized by the Anatomic Pathology Department at UC Davis and the Davis-Thompson Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary Pathology. The planning committee includes faculty from UC Davis, Washington State University, Stanford University, and Genentech. The WCVP Conference is attended by career pathologists (both academic and industry), and includes veterinary pathology residents and trainees.

Stanford Presentations:

  • Dr. Wencke Reineking, Comparative and Experimental Pathology Fellow, DCM:
    "Multiple bilateral interstitial cell tumors and lymphoma in a Fischer 344 rat."
  • Christine Goodermuth, MLAS Candidate, DCM:
    "Characterization of a presumptive thoracic scent gland tumor in an aged Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)."
  • Emily Chen, MLAS Candidate, DCM:
    "Pancreatic metastasis of a chemically-induced tumor in a Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)."
  • Ryann Ray, MLAS Candidate, DCM:
    "Melanomacrophage center distribution in wild-caught red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans)."
  • Ariana MacAuley, Stanford Undergraduate, Biology:
    "Lymphoma and multiple intussusceptions in a New Zealand White rabbit."
  • Jude Wolf, Stanford Undergraduate, Biology:
    "End-stage kidney disease and anasarca in a nude mouse."


Audience Feedback:

"Their command of the terminology, the lesions, and pathophysiology was fantastic!"

"These presentations really added a lot of value to the conference. It was great to see individual cases used as a way to introduce biomedical research."

Fostering Collaborations:

Our exceptional MLAS students caught the attention of faculty in the audience, leading to inquiries about potential collaborations on their projects. This recognition speaks volumes about the quality of our students and sets the stage for exciting partnerships in the future.

Congratulations to the WCVP Conference presenters and Dr. Vilches-Moure on a successful event!

Faculty News

New Chair of Comparative Medicine

Stanford School of Medicine Dean Lloyd Minor recently announced the appointment of Megan Albertelli, DVM, PhD, professor of Comparative Medicine, as the new chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine beginning April 1. Dr. Albertelli succeeded Sherril Green, DVM, PhD, who recently retired after 29 years of dedicated and impactful service at Stanford.  

Megan Albertelli earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University and her doctorate in human genetics from the University of Michigan. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Dr. Albertelli has been a valued member of Stanford Comparative Medicine since 2009. She has published many articles on animal models of human diseases and has taught numerous undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral scholars. Not only an outstanding researcher and educator, Megan Albertelli is also a compassionate leader dedicated to advancing the field of laboratory animal welfare.

We are very grateful for Dr. Green's leadership and her extraordinary legacy. The department is excited to support and implement Dr. Albertelli's vision for Comparative Medicine's future and growth.

Congratulations Dr. Albertelli, and thank you Dr. Green!

Faculty News

Congratulations to Dr. Karen J. Parker!

Dr. Karen J. Parker, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, is the inaugural Truong-Tan Broadcom Endowed Professor. See the announcement of the investiture here.

Dr. Parker holds a courtesy faculty appointment in the Department of Comparative Medicine. She collaborates and co-advises with Comparative Medicine faculty Dr. Joseph Garner and is currently accepting Master of Laboratory Animal Science advisees for the Fall 2024 term.

Dr. Parker, the principal investigator of research projects sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Simons Foundation, Department of Defense, and other foundations, is also an affiliate scientist at the California National Primate Research Center. Details about Dr. Parker’s research here.

MLAS News

Congratulations to Kyna Byrd,
MLAS alum! 

Under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Garner, Kyna Byrd, MLAS graduate of 2023, published with PLOS ONE their MLAS research project, Pebble to the Metal: A Boulder Approach to Enrichment for Danio rerio.

"This is the first work to show the benefits of pebble-photo enrichment for zebrafish in real-world conditions, and is a huge step for zebrafish husbandry and welfare" said Dr. Garner. 

The Department of Comparative Medicine congratulates Kyna, Dr. Garner and everyone involved in this publication.

Faculty News

Congratulations to Dr. José Vilches-Moure!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. José Vilchés-Moure on his promotion to Associate Professor of Comparative Medicine, effective June 1, 2024.

Dr. Vilchés-Moure earned his DVM from Purdue University and his PhD in Comparative Pathology from the University of California Davis, where he also completed his residency in Anatomic Pathology. His is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

This well-deserved promotion is a testament to his exceptional dedication and contributions to our department and the broader academic community. Dr. Vilches-Moure's commitment to excellence and tireless efforts in teaching and mentorship truly exemplify the values and mission of our department. His expertise and leadership continue to enrich our academic environment and inspire those around him. We are fortunate to have Dr. Vilches-Moure as part of Comparative Medicine, and we eagerly anticipate the continued impact of his work in advancing our field.