Katie LaVallee named leader of Animal Resources and Care Division
As university attending veterinarian and director of the Animal Resources and Care Division, LaVallee is responsible for overseeing the care and use of animals used in research and teaching across Virginia Tech.
Katie LaVallee now has a more permanent role overseeing the care and use of animals used in research and teaching across Virginia Tech.
Effective June 25, LaVallee has been appointed university attending veterinarian and director of the Animal Resources and Care Division. She has served in this role in an interim capacity since December 2024.
“We are delighted to have Katie shift into a long-term role leading the division that is responsible for ensuring the health, welfare, and humane use of animals in research and teaching,” Dan Sui, Virginia Tech’s senior vice president and chief research and innovation officer. “During just a few months in this role, she has clearly demonstrated her dedication to fostering collaborative partnerships within the research community to advance the university’s mission and uphold the highest standards of animal care and use.”
As university attending veterinarian and director of the Animal Resources and Care Division, LaVallee is charged with ensuring the highest standards of well-being and care of animals used in research and teaching across the university through a combination of oversight, direction, and support. She also will assist the continued growth of leading research and education programs at 11 Agriculture Research Extension Centers across Virginia.
“We’re excited to continue working with her to advance our strategic plan for research that involves animals,” said Sui, who as senior vice president is also the institutional official for animal welfare at Virginia Tech.
Since her interim appointment in December, LaVallee has collaborated extensively with the Office of Research and Innovation and its Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance to enhance the animal care program at Virginia Tech. Advancements under her leadership include:
- The development of a comprehensively revised draft of the Virginia Tech animal care policy in partnership with division stakeholders
- The advocacy for and initiation of research into non-animal alternatives for rodent colony health monitoring to align with the university’s commitment to the “3Rs” — replacement, reduction, and refinement — of animal research
- The completion of the schematic design of a future state-of-the-art research vivarium at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center with the center and university stakeholders
LaVallee also was invited to represent Virginia Tech alongside other state leaders during the January Virginia General Assembly session, where she advocated for the responsible use of animals in research.
“I’ve had the opportunity to interact with numerous investigators and research staff at Virginia Tech, which has helped me understand and appreciate the diversity of animal-based research and teaching activities conducted at our land-grant institution,” said LaVallee, who joined Virginia Tech as a senior research veterinarian in 2023. “I’m very excited to continue working with faculty in this capacity, helping them to utilize best practices when working with animals used in research and teaching, navigate the complexities of regulatory oversight, and support the success of their animal-based research and teaching programs.”
Prior to her arrival in Blacksburg, LaVallee worked as a laboratory animal veterinarian at academic institutions including Wake Forest School of Medicine/Atrium Health and Mayo Clinic. She also served as the director of laboratory animal medicine at ReAlta Life Sciences, a clinical stage biotechnology company in Norfolk.
“When I first visited Tech, I was immediately drawn to the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere of the community here. Everyone I interacted with was not only supportive but also genuinely enthusiastic about their work. It really stood out to me as a place where I could thrive, contribute, and grow alongside others. I thought it would be a place I’d like to call home,” LaVallee said.
LaVallee is also a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and serves on several committees within organized veterinary medicine. She earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Missouri.
She said she’s excited to continue to grow partnerships with researchers across the Virginia Tech landscape to help them achieve individual success and the university reach its collective goal.
“Whether faculty are new to the university, starting new research programs, or expanding current programs into new areas, we’re here to ensure they can do the best science possible by supporting them with necessary knowledge and resources at every turn,” LaVallee said.
