معرفی
Susan W. Volk is the Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also serves as a Professor in Soft Tissue Surgery and a faculty member of the Bioengineering Graduate Group. A board-certified veterinary surgeon (Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons), her work bridges regenerative medicine, collagen biology, and cancer microenvironment research.
Education
- BA in Biology, University of Pennsylvania (1991)
- VMD in Veterinary Medicine (1995)
- PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology (1998)
Volk's research focuses on dynamic reciprocity between cells and extracellular matrices, particularly the role of Type III Collagen (Col3) in cutaneous wound healing, fibrosis, and tumor suppression. Her lab has pioneered understanding of Col3's ability to direct stromal organization, limit scar formation, and suppress cancer metastasis through matrix regulation.
Key publication trends include
- Prevention of scar overproduction via Col3 modulation
- Stromal signatures predicting cancer outcomes in companion animals
- Development of collagen-based biomaterials for regenerative therapies
- Electrical stimulation and stem cell applications in wound repair
- Interferon-oxysterol defense against tumor vesicles
Scientific Awards
- 2019 Emerging Inventor of the Year, Penn Center for Innovation
- 2021 Translational Regenerative Science Award, Wound Healing Foundation
- Editorial Board Member, Wound Repair and Regeneration
- Vice President (2023), Wound Healing Society
Grants & Collaborations: Multiple NIH R01 grants, member of Wound Healing Society and North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association boards. Her lab collaborates with Penn Vet Cancer Center and international institutions on cross-species fibrosis and oncology studies.
