As an innovator in the field of veterinary medicine, I have witnessed the evolution of the well-acclaimed concept of “One Medicine” firsthand.
One Medicine recognizes the fundamental similarities between veterinary and human medicine, emphasizing the interconnectedness of animal and human health. This concept predates a similar idea known as “One Health,” which acknowledges the interdependence of animals, humans, and the environment in shaping health outcomes. With growing awareness of zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans—One Health has gained public health significance, particularly in addressing threats like West Nile Virus, COVID-19, and antibiotic resistance. Conversely, One Medicine maintains its focus on diseases that naturally occur in both humans and animals, such as cancer and obesity.
My introduction to the concept of One Medicine began during my clinical research at Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. Primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health, my work focused on exploring human health through veterinary clinical trials. These trials underscored striking similarities between canine diseases and those found in humans, and this research—along with similar work from the larger university faculty community—was the basis for establishing the OSU Institute for Translational and Emerging Research in Advanced Comparative Therapy (INTERACT). The Focused Ultrasound Foundation has been a proponent of this approach and supported our initial INTERACT Symposium in 2021.
It was during this symposium that I learned about Robert Timmerman, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at UT Southwestern (UTSW), and our mutual interest in the One Medicine concept. We spoke about the idea of researching both human and veterinary diseases under the same umbrella—inspiring the creation of a first-of-its-kind clinic that we have named the Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic (VROC).
UTSW’s VROC is set to open in early May 2025. The revolutionary space will not only be a center of cutting-edge veterinary research but will also be one where innovative treatments are simultaneously tested in both human and animal clinical trials. The clinic will integrate many disciplines, including radiation therapy, oncology, and several other fields of medicine. This collaborative approach between human and veterinary medicine is unprecedented and marks a significant step forward in medical research and treatment; for this, I applaud UTSW.
Personally, I am most excited about the potential impact of VROC as it promises to break down the existing silos between human and veterinary medicine. Enabling human and veterinary clinicians to collaborate in shared work environments, devising innovative clinical trials, and leveraging their combined knowledge to enhance our understanding of diseases affecting both animals and humans, all while facilitating the development of new treatments and therapies, represents a truly exciting innovation. VROC will have access to two focused ultrasound devices: the ALPINION system and the HIFUPlex Elite device, which the Foundation partnered with Verasonics and Sonic Concepts to develop. We will have a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, a staff veterinarian, medical physicists, a chief radiation therapist, a radiation therapist, five to eight technicians, and a clinical trials coordinator. We aim to be the first clinic in the nation to have a dedicated focused ultrasound therapist to help conduct the treatments. Additionally, we hope to continue partnering with the Foundation to expand our focused ultrasound research.
The Foundation has been a consistent source of support throughout my journey at OSU and now at UTSW. It has also been pivotal in helping to establish cross collaborations with major veterinary practice networks—a crucial step toward the clinic’s growth. I am deeply grateful for the Foundation’s invaluable contributions to this field.
We will hold a symposium on June 23, 2025. The symposium, which is designed for researchers, clinicians, residents, and students from both human and veterinary medicine, aims to deepen understanding of the reciprocal significance of veterinary clinical trials in human medicine and vice versa across diverse disease domains. We believe that the symposium will foster collaboration, encourage cross-disciplinary exchanges, and inspire a cultural shift in medical research and practice by reimagining the traditional translation of drugs and therapeutic devices from preclinical to clinical settings using smart approaches. Our day-long symposium will feature lectures, roundtable discussions, and presentations by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
VROC embodies a paradigm shift in health care, underscoring the collaboration between human and veterinary medicine. As Dr. Timmerman aptly puts it, “It can leapfrog rodent research quickly to clinical trials, bringing cancer research products faster to patients.” By harnessing expertise from both human and veterinary medicine, we can more effectively tackle complex health challenges, paving the way for this innovative approach to medicine.
Ashish Ranjan, PhD, is an Endowed Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He also serves as Vice Chair for Comparative Oncology and Research Innovation and Director of VROC at UTSW.