The force behind the vision...

The Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr Rod Straw, has 21 years experience in veterinary oncology.  He has specialized in studying spontaneous animal tumour models since 1986 and was a member of renowned cancer research groups at Colorado State University which has had a close association with world renowned human and veterinary oncologists and scientists over many years.  Dr Straw worked closely with Dr Withrow at Colorado for 9 years developing many of the limb sparing techniques which are now mainstream standard of care for people with bone cancer.

Since he established Animal Cancer Care as Australia’s first veterinary oncology service in 1997, Rod has developed strong relationships with radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, physicists and research scientists throughout the nation.  He has also cemented positive relationships with Premion (The Wesley Hospital), Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland, Peplin and Engeneic which have led to important and promising collaborative research endeavours.

A world-leading vet with a passion for both animal care and oncology, Rod is also the director of Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre and has built and equipped this iconic, purpose built small animal referral hospital. 

As the Chairman of the research committee of the Veterinary Society for Surgical Oncology, Rod is at the cutting-edge of advances in animal oncology.  This esteemed international society brings together surgical specialists throughout the world who are trained and involved in surgical oncology at clinical and research levels.
 

While Rod Straw is the force behind the vision to advance Australia’s contribution to animal oncology, each and every one of the specialists and highly trained technicians and nurses at the Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre (BVSC) at Albany Creek share his passion to help pets with cancer while helping to advance cancer research for the benefit of both pets and people.

The specialist team at BVSC are board certified specialists in surgery, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medicinal oncology, internal medicine, and ophthalmology.  There is also a high level emergency and critical care service managed and attended by veterinarians with membership in critical care with the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists.  The critical care service at BVSC ensures that animals treated for cancer and those on research protocols have access to around-the-clock care to ensure they are managed humanely with special attention to prevention of pain and maintaining the highest quality of life.

Check out Dr Rod's latest Healthy Pet Tip