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Rani Sellers, DVM, DPhil, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member with research interests in investigative toxicology and animal models of disease.

DVM, DPhil
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill
Molecular Therapeutics

Area of Interest

My area of expertise is in nonclinical pathology, and am board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathology. I served as a comparative and/or toxicologic pathologist in academia and in the biopharmaceutical industry for greater than 20 years.

My interests lie in investigative toxicology and animal models of disease. I have extensive experience in animal models of cancer, including genetically engineered and induced cancer models, syngeneic cancer models, and xenograft models. I have collaborated with researchers on studies evaluating mechanisms of cancer development and progression as well as assessing therapeutic interventions, including cancer vaccines.

My PhD was primarily focused on xenograft studies with human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Additionally, I have experience in animal models of infectious disease, metabolic disease, radiation injury, and tissue regeneration/wound healing, and have a strong interest in phenotypic variation based on mouse genetics.

I have a strong interest in promoting and ensuring that nonclinical research results in high quality, valuable, and translatable data which is reproducible. Every study must be designed and interpreted within the context genetics, age, environment, diet, microbiome, and sex. To this end, I have co-authored multiple best practice, points to consider, and review publications related to nonclinical research.

Awards and Honors

  • Meritorious Service Award, Society of Toxicologic Pathology, 2022
  • Achievement Award, Pfizer, RSV Prefusion F vaccine, 2019
  •  Meritorious Service award, Society of Toxicologic Pathology, 2017
  • Presidential Award for Service, American College of Veterinary Medicine, 2010
  • Harold W. Casey Scholarship Award for Excellence in Pathology, 1999
  • Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, 1998
  • Upjohn Award for Proficiency in Veterinary Clinical Medicine, 1994
  • Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society, 1993

Find publications on PubMed

Headshot of Rani Sellars