Michelle Oblak

Profile

Dr. Michelle Oblak is a veterinary surgical oncologist and Associate Professor of Soft Tissue and Oncologic Surgery in the Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College. Her research program focuses on translation, innovation and the incorporation of novel techniques and technology in treatment of patients, most often in a clinical trials setting. She has several collaborations considering dogs as a naturally occurring disease model for cancer in humans.

She is an assistant co-director of the University of Guelph Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation (ICCI), and an active member of the Dog Osteosarcoma Group: Biomarkers of Neoplasia (DOG BONe) and Rapid prototyping of patient-specific implants for dogs (RaPPID) working group. Michelle also serves as the Chair of the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology (VSSO) Research Committee, an international organization that works to advance the understanding and improve treatment of veterinary patients with cancer

Research Interests

Dr. Oblak is an active researcher with a focus on translational research and has several collaborations considering dogs as a naturally occurring disease model for cancer in humans. Her comparative oncology program at the OVC involves research on osteosarcoma and innovative methods for staging and treatment of dogs with cancer including sentinel lymph node mapping, image guided therapeutics, and 3D printing and rapid prototyping for surgical planning and reconstruction. She is an assistant co-director of the University of Guelph Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation (ICCI), and an active member of the Dog Osteosarcoma Group: Biomarkers of Neoplasia (DOG BONe) and Rapid prototyping of patient-specific implants for dogs (RaPPID) working group. 

Current Graduate Students

• Jennifer Wan - DVSc
• Shogo Kimura - CWMSc

Selected Publications

James, J., Oblak, M. L., Linden, A., James, F., Phillips, J. & Parkes, M. (2020). Schedule feasibility and workflow for additive manufacturing of titanium plates for cranioplasty in canine skull tumors.BMC Veterinary Research. 16. 10.1186/s12917-020-02343-1.

Swieton, N., Nykamp, S., Poirier, V., Wainberg, S. & Oblak, M. L. (2020). Suspected Radiation-Induced Osteosarcoma in a Domestic Shorthair Cat. Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine. 2020. 1-6. 10.1155/2020/1874342.

Comrie, M., Monteith, G., zur Linden, A., Oblak, M. L., Phillips, J. & James, Fiona. (2019). The accuracy of computed tomography scans for rapid prototyping of canine skulls. PLoS ONE. 14. 10.1371/journal.pone.0214123.

Grimes, J., Mestrinho, L., Berg, J., Cass, S., Oblak, M. L., Murphy, S., Amsellem, P., Brown, P., Hamaide, A. & Matz, B. (2019). Histologic evaluation of mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes during staging of oral malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 254. 938-943. 10.2460/javma.254.8.938.

Hayes, G., Demeter, E., Choi, E., Oblak, M. L. (2019). Single-Stage Craniectomy and Cranioplasty for Multilobular Osteochondrosarcoma Managed with a Custom Additive Manufactured Titanium Plate in a Dog. Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine. 2019. 1-7. 10.1155/2019/6383591.

Kim, C., Oblak, M. L. & Nykamp, S. (2019). Efficiency of ultrasound-guided aspiration of medial retropharyngeal lymph node in dogs. The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue veterinaire canadienne. 60. 619-624.

McGaffey, M., zur Linden, A., Bachynski, N., Oblak, M. L., James, F. & Weese, J.. (2019). Manual polishing of 3D printed metals produced by laser powder bed fusion reduces biofilm formation. PLOS ONE. 14. e0212995. 10.1371/journal.pone.0212995.

Slater, R., Oblak, M. L., Wright, T. & Matsuyama, A. (2019). Preserved limb function following subtotal iliopsoas muscle and femoral nerve resection in a dog with low grade intramuscular chondrosarcoma. The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue veterinaire canadienne. 60. 490-494.

Wainberg*, S., Oblak, M. L & Giuffrida, M. (2018). Ventral cervical versus bilateral lateral approach for extirpation of mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes in dogs. Veterinary Surgery. 47. 629-633. 10.1111/vsu.12920.

Asthana*, R., Oblak, M. L., Singh, A. & Mutsaers, A. (2018). In vitro evaluation of a simulated pneumoperitoneum environment using carbon dioxide on canine transitional cell carcinoma. Veterinary Surgery. 47. 10.1111/vsu.12778.

Halwagi*, M., Crawford, E., Hoddinott, K., & Oblak, M. L. (2017).  Outcome of prolonged acute vena cava occlusion after iatrogenic transection and repair in a dog.CanadianVeterinaryJournal, 58 (8), 845-850.

Townsend*, S., Oblak, M. L., Singh, A., Steffey, M. A., & Runge, J. J. (2016).  Thoracoscopy with Concurrent Esophagoscopy for Persistent Right Aortic Arch in 9 Dogs.VeterinarySurgery., doi: 10.1111/vsu.12572.

Wright*, T. & Oblak, M. L. (2016).  An Overview of Surgical Anatomy and Removal of Peripheral Lymph Nodes.Today’sVeterinaryPractice, 6 (14), 20-28.

Oblak, M. L., Bacon, N., & Covey, J. (2016).  Perioperative Management and Outcome of Bilateral Adrenalectomy in 9 dogs.VeterinarySurgery, 45 (6), 790-797, doi: 10.1111/vsu.12514.

Oblak, M. L., Boston, S. E., Woods, J. P., & Nykamp, S. (2015).  Comparison of concurrent imaging modalities in staging of dogs with appendicular primary bone tumours.VeterinaryandComparativeOncology, 13 (1), 28-39.

Oblak, M. L. & Boston, S. (2014).  Ischiectomy With Limb Preservation for a Dog With Ischial Chondrosarcoma: Case Report and Surgical Technique.VeterinarySurgery, 44 (5), 571-575, doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12296.x.

Oblak, M. L., Boston, S. E., Higginson, G., Patten, S., Monteith, G. E., JP Woods (2012).  The impact of pamidronate and chemotherapy on survival times in dogs with appendicular primary bone tumors treated with palliative radiation therapy.VeterinarySurgery, 41 (3), 430-435.

Search PubMed for additional publications by Dr. Oblak.