Chad Vezina

Chad Vezina is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Comparative Biosciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine. He holds a B.A. from St. Olaf College (1998), a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University at Buffalo (2003), and completed postdoctoral training at UW-Madison (2009). His research focuses on prostate and urinary tract development, with a particular emphasis on prostate growth mechanisms, hormone signaling, and translational models of urological diseases. He leads the Vezina Lab, which investigates interventions for age-related urinary disorders in humans and companion animals.

Dr. Vezina's work combines developmental biology, toxicology, and translational research to identify pharmacological targets for prostate disease. He has pioneered studies on how male hormones initiate prostate ductal formation and spatial patterning. His lab employs mouse and canine models to study fibrosis, inflammation, and infection-related urinary dysfunction. He is a key member of the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program and has mentored multiple trainees, including past student Marcela Ambrogi.

Recent research highlights include discovering serotonin-mediated defenses against UTIs, elucidating collagen-driven prostate fibrosis mechanisms, and identifying novel roles for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in autoimmune prostatitis. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with a focus on improving therapies for lower urinary tract dysfunction in aging populations.