VETS DEN Presenter: Dr. Mike Nolan

Dr. Mike Nolan is a nationally recognized leader in veterinary radiation oncology and cancer biology. He graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed his PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology at Colorado State University. He then pursued an internship at NYC Veterinary Specialists and a residency in radiation oncology at Colorado State University.

Dr. Nolan’s clinical and research efforts focus on improving the safety, comfort, and effectiveness of cancer treatment. His laboratory investigates normal tissue radiobiology—particularly the mechanisms underlying radiotherapy-associated pain and peripheral neuropathy—with the goal of developing strategies to minimize side effects and enhance quality of life for both animal and human patients. As the lead investigator for multiple clinical trials in veterinary oncology, he is advancing novel cancer therapies through translational and comparative research.

His excellence in research, teaching, and clinical care has been recognized through numerous honors, including being named an NC State University Faculty Scholar and receiving the American Veterinary Medical Foundation/EveryCat Health Foundation Research Award for his contributions to feline health and translational oncology.

Dr. Nolan is an active member of the Radiation Research Society, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Veterinary Cancer Society, American College of Veterinary Radiology, Comparative Medicine Institute at NC State, and the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, and serves as an Associate Member of the Duke Cancer Institute.

His areas of expertise include neurobiology, spontaneous animal disease models, and veterinary cancer care, with a central focus on developing therapeutic innovations that improve both the quality and duration of life in cancer patients.