Jody Swain, DVM, MS, DACLAM
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Division of Discovery Science
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Clinical Veterinarian, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2008 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, US, Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, DVM |
| 2003 | Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas, US, Master of Science Degree in Molecular Biotechnology, MS |
| 2001 | Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, Texas, US, Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2008-2010 | Clinical Fellowship, Gulf Coast Consortium Fellowship Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2018 | American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine |
| 2008 | Veterinary License, Texas Board of Veterinary Medicine |
| 2008 | Category II USDA Accreditation |
| 2008 | Veterinary License, Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medicine |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2023
Instructor, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2016
Clinical Veterinarian, Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2016
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Section Chief, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Section Chief ad interim, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2018 - 2019
Chief of Clinical Veterinary Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2016
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Mid-Career Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, Institutional Incident Command Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2021
Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Rodent Pathogen Subcommittee, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, One Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, ComFRT Voting Sub-Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, ACLAM eFormulary Editoral Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Voting Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2025
Chair, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Manager Position Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2022
Member, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Assistant Professor Positions Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2022
Chair, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Supervisor Position Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2022
Member, Institutional Biosafety USP800 Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Member, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Assistant Professor Position Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2019
Member, Environmental Health & Safety and Veterinary Medicine Communication Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Chair Position, Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2019
Alternate Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2022
Voting Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Clinical Veterinary Search Committee, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2016 - 2016
Alternate Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2015 - 2016
Voting Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2010 - 2015
Editorial Activities
Reviewer, Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), 2022 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2011 | Outstanding Clinical Veterinarian Award 2011, Charles River |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Clinical and Translational Applicability of Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) as an Alzheimer’s Model. Poster. DISCOVER Summer Research Program. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Facial Vein Blood Collection in Comparison to Standard Blood Collection Practices in Rats. Poster. CATALYST Summer Student poster symposium. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Mouse Metabolic Facility. Panelist. Energy Balance and Cancer Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Mouse Metabolic Facility. Conference. Energy Balance and Cancer Research Retreat. Houston, TX, US.
- 2014. Effect of Sv40 MicroRNA On Acute Infections In Syrian Golden Hamsters. Conference. Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2010. Diarrhea in a Ferret Colony. Conference. TBAALAS Regional Meeting. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2025. Brain volumetric changes in a non-human primate model of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Poster. ABRCMS 2025. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2019. Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery Animal Facility Overview. Conference. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Research or Genetics?. Conference. Charles Louis Davis, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Mapping in a Primate Model of CAA Shows Aging-Related Increases in GM and Reversal in WM with Transient Edema. Poster. Conference: ISMRM& ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Honolulu, HI, US.
- 2025. Susceptibility based magnetic resonance imaging for development of neuroimaging biomarkers. OnlineOnly. Alzheimer's & Dementia The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, US.
- 2025. Multi-Parametric MRI assessment of biomarkers in a non-human primate model exhibiting sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy. OnlineOnly. Alzheimer's & Dementia The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, US.
- 2024. Susceptibility based magnetic resonance imaging for development of neuroimaging biomarkers. Poster. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
- 2024. Multi-Parametric MRI assessment of biomarkers in a non-human primate model exhibiting sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Poster. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Philadelphia, Pennsylvvania, US.
- 2019. Minisymposium - Pathobiology of Bacterial, Viral and Parasitic Diseases. Conference. Experimental Biology 2019. Orlando, FL, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Safety and cutaneous toxicity of hypofractionated FLASH and conventional radiotherapy in a clinically relevant swine skin model. Invited. European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). Vienna, AT.
- 2024. Exploring Pathology Along the White Matter Tract near Hyperintense Vasogenic Edema through Multiparametric MRI and Diffusion. Poster. Proceedings 33rd Sci. Meeting, Int’l Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Singapore, SG.
- 2023. Cutaneous Tissue Effects on Large Target Volumes After Single-Fraction Dose Electron FLASH-RT in Yorkshire Swine. Invited. 3rd Flash Radiotherapy and Particle Therapy Conference. Geneva, CH.
- 2023. Development of neuroimaging biomarkers in non-human primate model of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Poster. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Amsterdam, NL.
- 2021. Abstract P129: Ketogenic diet (KD) and targeting Warburg effect: Apparent toxicity of KD combination with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Conference. AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, US.
- 2018. Novel Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging Probes for Intraoperative Guidance in Oncologic Surgery. Conference. Cancer Systems Imaging. San Sebastian, ES.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2027 - 2032 |
| Title: | ARIA across the disease continuum in a non-human primate model of sporadic CAA: in vivo manifestation, long-term consequences, and pathophysiology |
| Funding Source: | NYU School of Medicine |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | FP00030472 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2027 |
| Title: | A Rat model of CSF flow and radiation dosimetry to prepare for trials to treat leptomeningeal metastases with intraventricular radiopharmaceuticals |
| Funding Source: | Amer Assoc for Laboratory Animal Sci |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | Understanding and exploiting viral mimicry evasion to target immune refractory ovarian cancer |
| Funding Source: | National Institutes of Health |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Innate Immunity Stimulation Effects on Biomarkers, Cognition, and the Vascular Amyloid Proteome in a Squirrel Monkey Model of Sporadic CAA |
| Funding Source: | NYU School of Medicine |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | R01NS128190 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Broad Antiviral Countermeasures against pathogenic RNA viruses |
| Funding Source: | University of Texas Medical Branch |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Date: | 2020 - 2023 |
| Title: | Cancer Center Support (CORE) Grant |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Other Personnel |
| Date: | 2018 - 2021 |
| Title: | Molecular image-guided breast cancer surgery using high-resolution photography |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2017 - 2020 |
| Title: | BC170578: Molecular Image-Guided Surgery for The Eradication of Positive Margins in Breast Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | Co-I |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liu Y, Ahumada AL, Bayraktar E, Schwartz P, Chowdhury M, Shi S, Sebastian MM, Khant H, de Val N, Bayram NN, Zhang G, Vu TC, Jie Z, Jennings NB, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Swain J, Stur E, Mangala LS, Wu Y, Nagaraju S, Ermias B, Li C, Lopez-Berestein G, Braam J, Sood AK. Enhancing oral delivery of plant-derived vesicles for colitis. J Control Release 357:472-483, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37031740.
- Wood CA, Han S, Kim CS, Wen Y, Sampaio DRT, Harris JT, Homan KA, Swain JL, Emelianov SY, Sood AK, Cook JR, Sokolov KV, Bouchard RR. Clinically translatable quantitative molecular photoacoustic imaging with liposome-encapsulated ICG J-aggregates. Nat Commun 12(1):5410, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34518530.
- Zhang S, Sroller V, Zanwar P, Chen CJ, Halvorson SJ, Ajami NJ, Hecksel CW, Swain JL, Wong C, Sullivan CS, Butel JS. Viral microRNA effects on pathogenesis of polyomavirus SV40 infections in Syrian golden hamsters. PLoS Pathog 10(2):1003912, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24516384.
- Swain JL, Sroller V, Wong C, Zhang S, Halvorson SJ, Herron AJ, Kozinetz CA, Butel JS. Effects of Route of Inoculation and Viral Genetic Variation on Antibody Responses to Polyomavirus SV40 in Syrian Golden Hamsters. Comp Med 62(5):400-408, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23114044.
- Swain J, Hill L. One person is the PI. Lab Anim (NY) 41(8):221, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22821043.
- Olsen RJ, Ashraf M, Gonulal VE, Ayeras AA, Cantu C, Shea PR, Carroll RK, Humbird T, Greaver JL, Swain JL, Chang E, Ragasa W, Jenkins L, Lally KP, Blasdel T, Cagle P, Musser JM. Lower respiratory tract infection in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) infected with group A Streptococcus. Microb Pathog 49(6):336-47, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20674736.
- Swain J, Hill LR. Tissues from privately owned dogs. CRC is correct. Lab Anim (NY) 39(3):68-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20164943.
- Olsen RJ, Kobayashi SD, Ayeras AA, Ashraf M, Graves SF, Ragasa W, Humbird T, Greaver JL, Cantu C, Swain JL, Jenkins L, Blasdel T, Cagle PT, Gardner DJ, DeLeo FR, Musser JM. Lack of a major role of Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin in lower respiratory tract infection in non-human primates. Am J Pathol 176(3):1346-54, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20093487.
- Schneider BL, Zhang J, Markwardt J, Tokiwa G, Volpe T, Honey S, Futcher B. Growth rate and cell size modulate the synthesis of, and requirement for, G1-phase cyclins at start. Mol Cell Biol 24(24):10802-13, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15572683.
- Day A, Markwardt J, Delaguila R, Zhang J, Purnapatre K, Honigberg SM, Schneider BL. Cell size and Cln-Cdc28 complexes mediate entry into meiosis by modulating cell growth. Cell Cycle 3(11):1433-9, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15611626.
- Zhang J, Schneider C, Ottmers L, Rodriguez R, Day A, Markwardt J, Schneider BL. Genomic Scale Mutant Hunt Identifies Cell Size Homeostasis Genes in S. Cerevisiae. Curr Biol 12(23):1992-2001, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12477387.
Professional Educational Materials
- Zody K, Rochford J, Vardeman D, Swain J. Instructional Technical Training Plan for New Technologists Working with Rodents. In-house, 2019.
- Zody K, Rochford J, Vardeman D, Swain J. Instructional Technical Training Plan for New Senior Technologists Working with Rodents. In-house, 2019.
- Zody K, Rochford J, Vardeman D, Swain J. Instructional Technical Training Plan for New CRCC Senior Technicians Working with Rodents. In-house, 2019.
- Swain J. Sterile Techniques Video. In-house, 2009.
Other Articles
- Elise Konradsson, Kevin Liu, Safee Baig, Alan Hernandez Lopez, Brett Velasquez, Emil Schuler, Susanne Je-Han Lin, Jody Swain, Stephanie Mayor, Kayla Samuel, Traci Viscarra, Krystal Garrow, Erica J Moore, William Norton, Ziyi Li, Albert C Koong, Steven H Lin, Devarati Mitra Initial Evaluation of Feasibility and Cutaneous Toxicity of Electron FLASH Radiotherapy Using a Standard-of-Care Fractionation Scheme in a Porcine Skin Model. Cancers 18(6), 2026. PMID: 41899610.
Abstracts
- Liu Y, Lankenau-Ahumada A, Bayraktar E, Schwartz P, Chowdhury M, Shi S, Sebastian MM, Khant H, De Val N, Jiue Z, Jennings N, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Swain J, Stur E, Mangala LS, Wu Y, Nagaraju S, Eriman B, Li C, Lopez-Berestein G, Braam J, Sood AK. Enhancing oral delivery of plant-derived vesicles. AACR 89(7):Supplement, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Zielinski R, Poimenidou M, Khuong M, Grela K, Cardenas-Zuniga R, Skora S, Fokt I, Gagea M, Swain J, Zhou S, Priebe W. Ketogenic diet (KD) and targeting Warburg effect: Apparent toxicity of KD combination with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Mol Cancer Ther 2021(20):129, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Fowlkes NW, Swain J, Gagea M, Lockworth C, Tinkey P, Jensen V, Whitley EM. Cutaneous and Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis in Immunodeficient Mice. Experimental Biology 2019, Orlando, Florida, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Murray, S, Veraart, J, Szabo, J, Akers, C, Genovese, TS, Goldman, H, Llanos, M, Rusinek, H, Swain J, Hopkins, WD, Gray, SB, Wisniewski, T, Zaim-Wadghiri, Y, Scholtzova, H. Development of neuroimaging biomarkers in non-human primate model of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference.
- O'Donnell LF, Khan, S, Goldman, H, Murray, S, Szabo, J, Soliman, MT, Llanos, M, Cho, O, Kingsley, C, Swain J, Gray, SB, Hopkins, WD, Wisniewski, T, Veraart, J, Scholtzova, H, Zaim-Wadghiri,Y. Susceptibility based magnetic resonance imaging for development of neuroimaging biomarkers. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference.
- Zaim Wadghiri, Y, Veraart, J, Murray, S, Szabó, J, Khan, S, Goldman, H, Soliman, M, Llanos, M, Kingsley, C, Swain, J, Gray, S, Hopkins, W, Wisniewski, T, Scholtzova, H. Exploring Pathology Along the White Matter Tract near Hyperintense Vasogenic Edema through Multiparametric MRI and Diffusion. Proceedings 33rd Sci. Meeting, Int’l Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
- Khan, S, Murray, S, Szabo, J, Soliman, M T, Goldman, H, Llanos, M, Cho, O, Schissler, E, Kingsley, C, Swain J, Gray, S B, Hopkins, W D, Veraart, J, Wisniewski, T, Zaim-Wadghiri, Y, Scholtzove, H. Multi-Parametric MRI assessment of biomarkers in a non-human primate model exhibiting sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The 26th Alzheimer's Association International Conference.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026