Executive Team
Dr. Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS
VIRC Director
Dr. Boaz Arzi is a Professor of Dentistry and Oral Surgery in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences. Dr. Arzi has been an active member of the VIRC since its inception—serving as the Director of Clinical Studies and as a member of the education committee. He is also a Diplomate of the American and the European Veterinary Dental Colleges (DAVDC, DEVDC) and a board member of the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association (NAVRMA). Dr. Arzi focuses his clinical and research expertise on oral maxillofacial disorders and surgery and regenerative solutions in dogs and cats. He is a co-PI on the long-standing program utilizing adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to treat feline gingivostomatitus. He also serves as a co-PI on the use of rhBMP-2 for mandibular reconstruction. Dr. Arzi collaborates with the biomedical engineering group at UC Davis for the development of biological solutions to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in humans. Ultimately, Dr. Arzi’s work is translational with the aim of One Health treatment modalities for both human and animal health
Dr. Jennifer Cassano
Regenerative Medicine Laboratory Director
Dr. Jennifer Cassano received her B.S. (Animal Science, 2009), DVM (2013) and PhD (Comparative Biomedical Sciences, 2016) from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Upon completion of graduate school, she completed a combined academic/private practice rotating internship (2016-2017) at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University/Massachusetts Equine Clinic. From 2017 to the 2019 Dr. Cassano worked as an associate veterinarian in private practice in Massachusetts.
In September 2019, Dr. Cassano joined UC Davis as an Assistant Professor of Equine Field Service and as a clinician in the Department of Medicine & Epidemiology with a 50% clinical appointment in the VMTH. As the director of the Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, part of the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, Dr. Cassano oversees the preparation of all the stem cells used in various clinical trials underway at UC Davis. Her research seeks to better understand how modulation of the immune response can be harnessed in therapeutic treatments, combining the areas of immunology and regenerative medicine. Potential projects include evaluating mesenchymal stem cells antibacterial and antifungal properties in feline, canine, and equine species as well as evaluating mitochondria as a regenerative medicine treatment in osteoarthritis and metabolic disorders. Dr. Cassano hopes to mentor highly motivated students interested in getting involved in clinically-oriented research. Students will be involved with all phases of the project, including publication.