Professor Rachel Allavena
Professor Rachel Allavena is a veterinary specialist and researcher dedicated to developing new immunotherapy treatments for pet dogs with cancer.
Rachel has worked in the pharmaceutical industry in drug safety and development as well as in academic research settings. Rachel is a board-certified veterinary pathologist with international specialist training. After graduating as a veterinarian in Australia at The University of Queensland, she completed a PhD in Comparative Medicine at Cornell University and advanced pathology training at Ontario Veterinary College. Her PhD focused on Immunology, and allowed her to recognise the potential of natural bacterial and plant based immunostimulating molecules to serve as adjuvants promoting beneficial immune responses in animals with cancer. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists a globally recognised veterinary specialist qualification, focusing on the diagnosis and prognosis of animals with diseases.
Rachel leads a translational research program focused on naturally occurring cancers in pet dogs, using the dog’s own immune system to fight cancer more effectively. Her work bridges laboratory research and real-world care, with a strong emphasis on developing cutting edge new treatments in pets naturally suffering from cancer. These treatments are designed to be safe, ethical and practical, working closely with referring veterinarians and pet owners to improve outcomes and quality of life for dogs with cancer.
With expertise in cancer pathology, immune biology and clinical trial design, Rachel oversees the development of novel immunotherapies including vaccine-like and immune-stimulating approaches. Her research has attracted major competitive funding, been published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and presented internationally, including public talks on the role of pet dogs in advancing cancer treatment.
Alongside her research, Rachel is deeply committed to veterinary education and specialist training. She mentors veterinarians and pathologists, focuses her research on animal welfare and improving pet health, and brings a clinician-focused perspective to everything she does.
At the heart of Rachel’s work is a simple goal: to bring better, science-based cancer treatments to dogs, while supporting the veterinarians and families who care for them.
Dr. Annika Oksa
Dr Annika is a specialist veterinary pathologist with a PhD in veterinary cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Dr Annika is also a veterinary clinician, treating patients in North Brisbane at the Pet Care Hub.
Dr Annika graduated from Murdoch University with Honours in 2005, and went on to complete a rotating internship at Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre, under the tutelage of oncology specialist Dr Rod Straw. This ignited Annika’s interest in oncology and pathology, and she pursued a residency in veterinary pathology at her alma mater, becoming a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists via examination in Pathobiology in 2009. During her residency Dr Annika researched the genetic expression profiles and classification of canine lymphoma subtypes. In 2022 Dr Annika successfully passed the very rigorous American College of Veterinary Pathology board examinations and became a specialist veterinary pathologist.
As part of her PhD research at the University of Queensland Dr Annika conducted an immunotherapy treatment trial in dogs with cancer. The immune system mediators within the tumour microenvironment were investigated, and prognostic markers identified. The findings of this research project have been presented at multiple national and international conferences, and published and cited in peer-reviewed journals, as well as Australian national news channels and radio interviews. Dr Annika is a frequent speaker at Australian veterinary conferences, often collaborating with specialist veterinary oncologists.
Alongside her further education, Dr Annika has continued to work as a veterinary clinician for the past 20 years, treating patients at GP clinics as well as emergency centres. She is very experienced in all aspects of the diagnostic process, and enjoys providing surgical and medical care to her patients, providing solutions contextualised to each individual situation.
Combining her passion for patient care and new and emerging cancer immunotherapies, Dr Annika founded Animal Immuno Solutions with Professor Rachel Allavena in 2025, to make these safe and effective cancer treatments available to veterinary patients in Australia, and to support pet owners and their veterinarians with cancer management.