Comparative Medicine

Established in 1990, the Department of Comparative Medicine is an academic, basic science department within the Stanford University School of Medicine. A unique feature of the department is that 12 of its 15 faculty are veterinarians. All faculty members are deeply engaged in laboratory animal science, comparative medicine, and translational research.

The department’s dual mission is to advance both human and animal health through outstanding scientific research, veterinary clinical care, and rigorous academic training. In addition to its academic programs, the department’s veterinary faculty oversee the campus-wide animal research program and provide comprehensive clinical services to the Stanford research community.

Academic and Training Programs

The Department of Comparative Medicine is dedicated to training the next generation of scientific researchers and veterinary specialists, offering instruction and mentorship at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels:

• Undergraduate and Graduate Mentorship: Department faculty actively teach and mentor Stanford undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. Students have the opportunity to participate directly in faculty-led clinical and basic science research projects, gaining hands-on experience in translational medicine.

• Graduate Studies: Under the guidance of the Director of Graduate Studies, the department supports advanced research training through the Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) Graduate Program opens in a new tab. The MLAS program opens in a new tab emphasizes the development and refinement of animal models of human disease, biomethodology, laboratory animal science, regulation and compliance, and animal welfare. The department offers graduate courses in comparative histology and histopathology, animal modeling, biostatistics, scientific literature review, and professional development. Additionally, the department offers visiting externships in comparative pathology and laboratory animal medicine to 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-year veterinary students nationwide. 

• Postdoctoral, Residency, and Fellow Training: The department offers a premier post-D.V.M. residency training program in laboratory animal medicine. This program prepares veterinarians for board certification and leadership roles in academic institutions, research centers, and biotechnology industries. We train postdoctoral scholars in animal behavior and welfare, a specific focus critical for research using animal models. Additionally, we offer a comparative and experimental veterinary pathology fellowship training program that further develops the trainee’s research skills and expertise.

Research and Translational Medicine

Comparative Medicine faculty lead collaborative, interdisciplinary research programs that bridge the gap between basic biological sciences and clinical medicine. Key areas of investigation and expertise include:

• Animal Modeling: Developing, characterizing, and refining animal models that are most relevant to biomedical studies of human health and disease. 

• Comparative and Experimental Pathology: Diagnosing and characterizing disease processes across different species to better understand human disease mechanisms. Additionally, providing a firm context in which to interpret findings and data in biomedical research studies that use animal models. 

• Pain and Anesthesiology: Advancing the science of pain management, anesthesia protocols, and welfare optimization for research animals.

• Infectious Disease and Cancer: Investigating host-pathogen interactions, immunology, and oncology using comparative physiological models.

• Neuroscience and Bioengineering: Partnering with physical scientists and engineers to study brain function, neural interfaces, and advanced biomedical devices.

• Animal Behavior Models: Using animal and human behavioral studies with the goal of identifying biomarkers leading to screening, prevention, and personalized treatment options. Specific areas of study include autism, trichotillomania, and compulsive skin-picking.

Clinical Services and Campus Oversight

Beyond academic instruction, the department’s veterinary faculty provide critical infrastructure and operational oversight for Stanford University’s entire scientific community:

• Veterinary Service Center (VSC) opens in a new tab: Providing world-class clinical services, preventative medicine, and surgical support for all animals involved in university research.

• Animal Research at Stanford opens in a new tab: Ensuring absolute compliance with federal regulations and maintaining the highest ethical standards of animal welfare, husbandry, and scientific integrity across campus.