Amy K. LeBlanc, D.V.M.

Amy K. LeBlanc, D.V.M.
Senior Scientist
Molecular Imaging Branch
Director, Comparative Oncology Program

As Director of the Comparative Oncology Program, Dr. LeBlanc has a strong interest in animal modeling for development of new cancer drugs and imaging agents, and identification of imaging biomarkers, development and optimization of PET imaging hardware and imaging protocols.

Areas of Expertise

1) animal models, 2) imaging, 3) biomarker identification

Contact Info

Amy K. LeBlanc, D.V.M.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 37, Room 5000
Bethesda, MD 20892
Ph: 240-760-7093
amy.leblanc@nih.gov

Dr. LeBlanc has a strong interest in animal modeling for development of new cancer drugs and imaging agents, and identification of imaging biomarkers, development and optimization of PET imaging hardware and imaging protocols. She has experience in fostering collaborations with industry and academic partners to support relevant eIND studies in man. She has given numerous invited lectures on the inclusion of companion animals in imaging-based translational research and the value of comparative oncology in drug and imaging agent development.

NIH Scientific Focus Areas:
Cancer Biology

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Comparative Molecular Life History of Spontaneous Canine and Human Gliomas.
    Amin SB, Anderson KJ, Boudreau CE, Martinez-Ledesma E, Kocakavuk E, Johnson KC, Barthel FP, Varn FS, Kassab C, Ling X, Kim H, Barter M, Lau CC, Ngan CY, Chapman M, Koehler JW, Long JP, Miller AD, Miller CR, Porter BF, Rissi DR, Mazcko C, LeBlanc AK, Dickinson PJ, Packer RA, Taylor AR, Rossmeisl JH Jr, Woolard KD, Heimberger AB, Levine JM, Verhaak RGW.
    Cancer Cell. 37(2): 243-57, 2020. [ Journal Article ]
  2. NCI Comparative Oncology Program Testing of Non-Camptothecin Indenoisoquinoline Topoisomerase I Inhibitors in Naturally Occurring Canine Lymphoma.
    Burton JH, Mazcko C, LeBlanc A, Covey JM, Ji J, Kinders RJ, Parchment RE, Khanna C, Paoloni M, Lana S, Weishaar K, London C, Kisseberth W, Krick E, Vail D, Childress M, Bryan JN, Barber L, Ehrhart EJ, Kent M, Fan T, Kow K, Northup N, Wilson-Robles H, Tomaszewski J, Holleran JL, Muzzio M, Eiseman J, Beumer JH, Doroshow JH, Pommier Y.
    Clin Cancer Res. 24(23): 5830-40, 2018. [ Journal Article ]
  3. Creation of an NCI comparative brain tumor consortium: informing the translation of new knowledge from canine to human brain tumor patients.
    LeBlanc AK, Mazcko C, Brown DE, Koehler JW, Miller AD, Miller CR, Bentley RT, Packer RA, Breen M, Boudreau CE, Levine JM, Simpson RM, Halsey C, Kisseberth W, Rossmeisl JH Jr, Dickinson PJ, Fan TM, Corps K, Aldape K, Puduvalli V, Pluhar GE, Gilbert MR.
    Neuro Oncol. 18(9): 1209-18, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  4. Perspectives from man's best friend: National Academy of Medicine's Workshop on Comparative Oncology.
    LeBlanc AK, Breen M, Choyke P, Dewhirst M, Fan TM, Gustafson DL, Helman LJ, Kastan MB, Knapp DW, Levin WJ, London C, Mason N, Mazcko C, Olson PN, Page R, Teicher BA, Thamm DH, Trent JM, Vail DM, Khanna C.
    Sci Transl Med. 8(324): 324ps5, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Defining the Value of a Comparative Approach to Cancer Drug Development.
    LeBlanc AK, Mazcko CN, Khanna C.
    Clin Cancer Res. 22(9): 2133-8, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Amy LeBlanc is a board-certified veterinary oncologist and Director of the CCR Comparative Oncology Program at the National Cancer Institute, NIH. In this position, she directly oversees and manages the operations of the Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium (COTC), which designs and executes clinical trials of new cancer therapies in tumor-bearing pet dogs.

Dr. LeBlanc is a graduate of Michigan State University, holding both B.S. and D.V.M. degrees. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University and a residency in companion animal oncology at Louisiana State University. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Prior to her appointment at NIH, Dr. LeBlanc was an Associate Professor with tenure and Director of Translational Research at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and UT Graduate School of Medicine (GSM). Dr. LeBlanc’s group at the University of Tennessee published the first comprehensive studies describing molecular imaging of dogs and cats using PET/CT, focusing on the forward and back-translation of 18F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals.

Dr. LeBlanc has given numerous invited lectures on the inclusion of companion animals in imaging-based translational research and the value of comparative oncology in drug and imaging agent development.

Name Position
Shan Huang M.D., Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
Ling Ren Ph.D. Biologist
Christina Mazcko Biologist