Name of Investigator: Barb Biller, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology)
Title: Assistant Professor of Oncology
Contact Information:
Email Address: barbara.biller@colostate.edu
Work Address (mailing): Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 300 W. Drake Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80523
Office Location (Building/Room #): ACC 220
Office Phone Number: (970) 297-4228
Laboratory Location (Building/Room #): ACC 255
Laboratory Phone Number: (970) 297-4088
Biography of Investigator:
Dr. Biller is from Lancaster, PA but grew up in the Bay Area in
California. After College she worked as a laboratory technician at
Genentech in San Francisco. She then attended veterinary school at
University of Wisconsin-Madison where she developed her interest in
oncology. She credits her previous background in basic immunology
research and the clinical oncology service at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison with piquing her interest in the specialty of
oncology. She completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship
at Colorado State University and residency in medical oncology at the
University of Illinois – Champaign/Urbana. After 5 years of practice at
Denver Veterinary Specialists she returned to CSU to complete a Ph.D.
in Immunology because she missed the research and teaching
opportunities available in academia. She completed her Ph.D. in April
of 2007 and became a faculty member in medical oncology at that time.
Classes Taught/Currently Teaching:
PVM 773 (4 oncology lectures) each Spring, Problem Based Learning course mentor for 3rd year students, and Post-graduate Medicine every other year.
Research Interests/Focus:
Our laboratory is investigating the immunostimulatory potential of chemotherapy drugs, particularly when given in combination with cancer immunotherapeutics. We are especially interested in the effects of chemotherapy on innate immunity and also on a subset of lymphocytes known as regulatory T cells. In addition our laboratory is investigating the role of regulatory T cells in dogs with cancer and exploring ways to deplete this cell population using metronomic chemotherapy.
Future Direction:
Develop projects and funding support for the research areas listed above.
Name of Laboratory:
Tumor Immunology (Dow/Biller Lab)
Major Laboratory Equipment:
Our lab is well-equipped for basic research, particularly basic immunology research and flow cytometry. Resources include;
Shared equipment at the CSU Animal Cancer Center includes;
Current Work/Projects:
Publications: (Selected)
*Walter CU, *Biller BJ,
Lana SE, Bachand AM, Dow SW: Effects of chemotherapy on immune
responses in dogs with cancer. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
20(2):342-327, 2006.
U’Ren LW, Biller BJ, Elmslie RE,
Thamm DH, Dow SW: Evaluation of a novel tumor vaccine in dogs with
hemangiosarcoma. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 21(1):113-120,
2007.
Biller BJ, Elmslie RE, Burnett RC, Avery AC, Dow
SW: Use of FoxP3 expression to identify regulatory T cells in healthy
dogs and dogs with cancer. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology.
116(1-2):69-78, 2007.
Post Doctorates/Graduate Students:
Name: Leah Mitchell, Ph.D.
Email Address: leah.mitchell@colostate.edu
Area of Study: tumor immunology, metronomic chemotherapy/regulatory T cells
Name: Jenna Burton, DVM
Email Address: jenna.burton@colostate.edu
Area of Study: tumor immunology, metronomic chemotherapy/regulatory T cells
Graduation Date: Master’s Degree and Clinical Oncology Residency: completion 7/2011