Social Media Campaign Celebrating Women’s History Month Features PVM Faculty

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To celebrate Women’s History Month, Purdue University’s Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships (EVPRP) is honoring the achievements of female faculty, staff, and students through a social media campaign that includes three Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty members.  Each day during the month of March, the EVPRP has been sharing posts on its social media account reflecting the scholarly research, scientific achievements, and historic milestones accomplished by Purdue women.

The posts have appeared each morning, noted with the hashtag #31PurdueWomen.  The following Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty members are among those 31:

Dr. Ourania Andrisani

Dr. Ourania Andrisani, Distinguished Professor of Basic Medical Sciences and an active mentor of the Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program, is regarded as an international expert on the molecular biology of the hepatitis B virus, a leading cause of liver disease including cirrhosis and highly malignant liver cancer. Her research has identified aspects of the mechanisms by which proteins expressed by the hepatitis B virus contribute to cell transformation and development of the hepatocellular carcinoma, or cancer that starts in the liver. She also has served on National Institutes of Health study sections for nearly 20 years and has obtained major federal funding in support of her research. Dr. Andrisani has consistently published her research in high-impact journals and has been generous with her time in mentoring postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. She also has participated in the campus scientific community with particularly long-standing service and contributions to the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research.

Dr. Hsin-Yi Weng

Associate Professor of Clinical and Analytical Epidemiology Hsin-Yi Weng in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology earned her BVM degree from National Chung Hsing University, her MPH from Tulane University, and a PhD from the University of California, Davis. Her research interests include human-animal interactions, application of epidemiology to studies promoting animal health and welfare, and public health. The National Library of Medicine includes over 70 of her publications on a myriad of subjects including dog overpopulation in Taiwan and histopathologic findings in canine pituitary glands.

Dr. Rebecca Wilkes

Assistant Professor of Molecular Diagnostics Rebecca Wilkes serves as section head for the Molecular, Virology, and Serology sections of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. She earned her DVM and PhD degrees from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. Dr. Wilke’s research involves the creation of new molecular tests which include next-generation sequencing panels used to locate infectious diseases. She also supervises the COVID-19 diagnostic testing for the campus.

The collection of posts about these faculty members and the others celebrated as part of the #31PurdueWomen social media campaign can be viewed on the EVPRP website or on “Research at Purdue,” the social media account for EVPRP.

“This is the eighth year we’ve run this campaign, and we haven’t featured anyone twice,” said Sarah Anderson, the writer/graphic designer who oversees social media in Research Communications within the EVPRP. “All recipients have been nominated by their peers, and we encourage you to celebrate with us by sharing and retweeting the posts.”

Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News

Source: Purdue University Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships

Chemotherapy Usually Intended for Dogs is Treating a Red Fox’s Lymphoma

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Purdue Veterinary Hospital and Wolf Park Collaborate to Treat an Unusual Patient

The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital works with many patients across species. None are more unusual perhaps than Joker, an eight-year-old silver-phased red fox undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Joker resides at Wolf Park, a nonprofit conservation facility located in nearby Battle Ground, Ind.

During a routine medical check in November, his handler, Kimber Hendrix, noticed small tumors on his tongue.  Wolf Park’s veterinarian, Dr. Julia Becker, sent a biopsy to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where Joker was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma by Dr. Mario Sola, assistant professor of diagnostic pathology.  Dr. Becker then referred Joker’s case to Dr. Christopher Fulkerson, clinical assistant professor of veterinary medical oncology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Dr. Fulkerson hadn’t previously worked with a fox patient. He and his team couldn’t find any literature about this type of lymphoma in foxes, so they are treating Joker based on a protocol often used for dogs with lymphoma. This chemotherapy protocol mainly uses chemotherapy pills, which the team thought was most likely to be well-tolerated and successful.

According to Dr. Fulkerson, Joker’s behavior is similar to that of a dog. He is as wild as possible at Wolf Park, but is social and trained for medical procedures. “He’s a really laid-back fox,” Hendrix said. “He’s a sweet guy to work with. He’s a great animal ambassador.”

Joker has been at Wolf Park since 2015, when he was rescued after being found under a porch. His laid back personality – accompanied with a knack of playing practical jokes on his den mate Scarlette – make him a favorite among visitors.

To minimize his stress and anxiety, as many procedures as possible are followed at Wolf Park. Since January, Dr. Fulkerson has been going to Wolf Park almost weekly to administer Joker’s treatment and check his laboratory reports. On these days, Joker is rewarded with a special treat: an egg.

Joker is responding well to chemotherapy. After a few weeks of treatment, his lymphoma is in partial remission, meaning most of the lesions have gone away or have substantially decreased in size. He is undergoing chemotherapy treatments until mid-April. The hope is that over time, complete remission is achieved with the disappearance of all lesions, although the treatment time frame may be extended if lesions remain.

“We follow his lab work really closely to make sure that the chemotherapy drugs aren’t having any adverse effects on his white blood cell count. This drug can also cause liver injury, so we monitor his liver function and liver values. That all has been good throughout all the treatment, with no signs of obvious chemotherapy side effects,” Dr. Fulkerson said.

In captivity, red foxes can live 12-14 years. Each day, Joker engages in training and enrichment with staff and volunteers, and he has plenty of energy to play with his enrichment objects. Hendrix said that even during treatment, he hasn’t had any bad days.

Dr. Fulkerson said that the most gratifying and exciting part of Joker’s treatment has been seeing his tumors responding and seeing him living his life as normal.

“I was wearing my mask because of COVID-19,” he said of a recent visit, “But I told his handlers if they could have seen my face under it, I probably had one of the biggest smiles I’d had in the last year just from seeing him frolicking around and being excited and happy.”

Purdue has offset the cost of some of Joker’s procedures with teaching funds. Joker’s lymphoma already has been a good learning case for diagnostic imaging, oncology, and pathology.  Following Joker’s progress may help with treatment of similar cases in the future.

The remaining costs, as of now, have been fully funded through donations to Wolf Park, although more need may arise in the future if his treatment is extended.

Hendrix said she’s thankful that Wolf Park has been able to partner with Purdue on Joker’s treatment.

“I just really have loved the partnership that has blossomed between Wolf Park and Purdue throughout this,” she said. “I’d love for there to be something that comes out of this to help other exotics so that people learn more about the progression of the disease, can help other animals in human care and can do more for them. Anything that can be learned from his case would be wonderful.”

Dr. Fulkerson agrees. He and his team plan to compile a case report on Joker so that this treatment option is documented to help other foxes diagnosed with lymphoma in the future.

“One of the great things about being at Purdue and being an academic veterinarian is that we can see some of these unusual things, we have some resources we can bring to help us learn about them, and then we can share that information with other veterinarians to help other patients in the future,” he said.

Click here to view a full Purdue news release.

Writer(s): Kelsey Lefever, Purdue Marketing and Communications | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Dean Willie Reed Advises Boilermakers to Raise Their Sleeves to Protect Purdue

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With Purdue University halfway through its second full semester of abiding by the Protect Purdue Pledge, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has declared that all Indiana residents ages 16 and up will be available to schedule a vaccine appointment beginning March 31. Meanwhile, Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed is urging all Boilermakers to schedule vaccinations for themselves as soon as they are eligible. Additionally, in a video released Monday, March 22, he stated that while Purdue University will do everything in its power to have a vaccination center on campus, Boilermakers should not wait for that to happen and instead make arrangements as soon as they become eligible for a vaccination appointment.

“Based on all of the data that I have analyzed and the reports I have read, individuals should not be concerned about the safety of the vaccines,” Dean Reed said. “The vaccines have high efficacy, and thankfully, safety is excellent.”

But Dean Reed also pointed out that the duty of Boilermakers to abide by the Purdue Pledge does not end when they get the vaccine. Purdue recommends that all who have received a complete COVID-19 vaccination of either the double dosage Moderna / Pfizer or single dosage Johnson & Johnson vaccine should complete a Qualtrics survey to verify that they completed the vaccination and share related details. This will help the Protect Purdue Health Center provide safety guidance to the campus community and also to be ready to activate the Purdue campus in keeping with the CDC’s guidelines for vaccinated individuals.

“We continue to encourage all Boilermakers to get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible, including those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past,” said Dr. Estevan Ramirez, chief medical officer of the Protect Purdue Health Center. “And having information from the vaccination verification program on-hand will be extremely helpful to allow the PPHC and other health-care providers on campus to continue their efforts to provide optimal care.”

The Indiana Department of Health reports that as of Thursday, March 25, more than 1,018,500 people in Indiana already have received the vaccine with nearly 26,000 receiving it on a single day.

The Purdue COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Task Force, led by Dean Reed, is monitoring this information closely with the goal of providing valuable information on available vaccines, including safety and efficacy, and serving as a trusted body for the campus community, building confidence in vaccination and helping dispel misinformation.  Click here to view Dean Reed’s Protect Purdue video.

Boiler Up, Mask Up, Sleeve Up!

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern

Source: Purdue Marketing and Communications

All’s Well that Ended Well in the Case of PVM’s First Virtual Equine Wellness Forum

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The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual event designed to inform horse owners and equine industry professionals about horse health issues galloped into new territory this year by going virtual.  Normally held as a day-long in person program, the Equine Wellness Forum was conducted virtually, and spanned several days, with presentations given over the Zoom platform on topics ranging from basic preventative healthcare to the latest medical advancements.

The first session was held on Saturday, February 6 and began with a virtual walkthrough of the new Purdue University Veterinary Hospital facilities now under construction. Participants were able to watch drone footage of the construction site as Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed provided narration. The rest of the program that day featured four speakers beginning with a faculty member who has achieved legendary status as a long-time clinician in the Large Animal Hospital, Professor of Large Animal Surgery Stephen Adams.

Dr. Adams’ lecture, entitled “40 years of Equine Surgery,” was extra special because he will be retiring this summer after a long history of helping clients with their horses at Purdue, providing life-saving treatments to patients, and improving the overall well-being of both horses and riders. In his talk, Dr. Adams spoke about how horses are living much longer today, many even living over 35 years. Their increased life-span is due to a myriad of factors, including geriatric diets and better nutrition as well as improved surgical therapies. Newer technologies have made it possible for horses to remain standing while undergoing diagnostic procedures such as ultrasonography and endoscopy.

Another lecture featured Dr. Erin Wilson of Nutrena, who spoke about her findings related to customizing horse diets. Her lecture included healthy types of grains and grass to feed horses, and the proper mixture for each.  Forum attendees also were treated to presentations by Dr. Amanda Farr, clinical assistant professor, and Dr. Sarah Waxman, visiting assistant professor, with the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Equine Field Service, who spoke on the topics of “Horse-proofing the Barn” and “Neck and Back Pain in the Horse,” respectively. 

Because the program was conducted virtually, additional lectures were presented during subsequent weeks, including talks on “Laminitis: What’s New?” by Dr. Tim Lescun, associate professor of large animal surgery; “Sinus and Guttural Pouch Disease,” by Dr. Jan Hawkins, professor/section head of large animal surgery; “Muscle Disease,” by Dr. Stacy Tinkler, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine; and “When the Filters Fail: Kidney and Liver Disease,” by Dr. Sandra Taylor, associate professor of large animal internal medicine.

Veterinary medical professionals were able to earn continuing education credits for their participation, but most of the attendees were horse owners looking to expand their knowledge. A total of about 120 people registered to participate in the virtual Equine Wellness Forum in its live on-line format.  Additionally, most of the videos that were posted from the Forum as of March 14 had been viewed 30-40 times. All of the lectures on the initial Saturday and during the subsequent weeks were recorded and can be accessed by attendees for a limited time.  “Given that it was not possible to safely hold the event in person this year, we were excited to have the opportunity to still provide this valuable information and education for the equine industry virtually,” said PVM’s Director of Lifelong Learning Ben Shepard.  “The presenters did a fantastic job and the sessions went off without a hitch.  We are thankful for everyone who registered to participate, thereby making this first virtual Equine Wellness Forum a success.”

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Veterinarians and Veterinary Students Enabled to Assist with Vaccination Efforts

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During his address to the nation March 11 on the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown, President Joe Biden focused on the effort to accelerate vaccination, and indicated that plans to expand the pool of qualified personnel eligible to administer vaccines would include veterinarians and veterinary students.  The statement followed efforts by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to advocate at the federal level on behalf of veterinarians. 

As the conversation about utilizing veterinarians for administering COVID vaccines to people has accelerated over the past several months, the AVMA has been in communication with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and their teams that are responsible for coordinating the vaccine response.  Last month, the AVMA submitted a formal request to HHS asking that veterinary professionals be listed as a “qualified person” in connection with COVID declarations under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act), which authorizes the HHS secretary to issue emergency public health declarations and provides limited immunity from liability to those covered under the act.

The AVMA argued that if veterinarians are to be asked to help administer COVID vaccines to people, veterinarians need to be clearly authorized to do so, and they must be explicitly included among those covered by the liability immunity.  The day after the president’s speech, the acting HHS secretary issued an amendment to the PREP Act declarations that specifically addresses veterinarians and veterinary students.

The AVMA provided the following information about the amendment:

• It allows veterinarians who are licensed to practice under the law of any state to administer COVID vaccines in any jurisdiction in association with a COVID vaccination effort by a state, local, tribal, or territorial authority or by an institution in which the COVID vaccine is administered.
• This also applies to veterinarians who have held an active license or certification under the law of any state within the last five years which is inactive, expired or lapsed, as well as veterinary students with appropriate training in administering vaccines. The intent is to include recently retired veterinarians who may want to help.
• The amendment preempts any state law that would otherwise prohibit veterinarians or veterinary students who are a “qualified person” under the PREP Act from prescribing, dispensing, or administering COVID vaccines or other covered COVID countermeasures.
• Veterinarians and veterinary students will be afforded liability protections in accordance with the PREP Act and the terms of the amendment. However, specific conditions must be met in order for the authorization to administer the vaccines and the liability protections to apply. These liability protections apply from March 11, 2021, through October 1, 2024.
• In order for the authorization and liability protections to apply, veterinarians and veterinary students must be participating in association with a COVID vaccination effort by a state, local, tribal, or territorial authority, or by an institution in which the COVID vaccine is administered. Additional specific requirements also must be met, such as having basic certification in CPR, completing the CDC COVID vaccination modules, an observation period, etc.
• While the liability outlined in the PREP Act is broad, it does not apply to willful misconduct, and the federal government does not provide a legal defense in the event of a lawsuit.

The AVMA is working to develop additional resources to assist those who choose to volunteer in this effort, such as guidance on CPR certification and other requirements. Developing information will be posted at avma.org/Coronavirus.

The following federal government resources also provide additional information:

• Information on volunteering to participate in vaccination efforts
• Fact sheet: Expanding the COVID-19 Vaccination Workforce
• HHS announcement: Amendment of the PREP Act

Click here to view a complete article by the AVMA on the latest developments.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Honoring A Legacy – Retiring Large Animal Clinician Recognized by Equine Enthusiasts

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The 2021 Equine Wellness Forum provided a perfect opportunity for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to honor a legendary large animal clinician for his nearly 40 years of tireless service to animals and their owners. Dr. Stephen Adams, professor of large animal surgery, will retire this summer.  In conjunction with a talk he gave during the virtual forum on February 6, clients and colleagues paid tribute to the specialist in equine surgery for his longtime Purdue career in which he served as a quintessential clinician, educator and researcher.

Dr. Adams began his experience in the world of veterinary medicine by helping raise Standardbred horses before earning his DVM degree in 1975 at Cornell University. He then came to Purdue where he completed his large animal surgery residency, earning his MS in 1978, and then joined the faculty as assistant professor of large animal surgery.  In 1981 he became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.  Rising through the academic ranks, he was promoted to full professor in 1987. 

During his time at Purdue, Dr. Adams has earned numerous teaching awards, including the prestigious Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award. As a scholar, his research interests have focused on equine orthopedics/orthopedic infections, joint disease and lameness.  Throughout his career, he has published numerous journal articles and written 20 book chapters, while also fulfilling national and international speaking engagements. 

One of his most recent projects involved serving as a vital member of the team that launched the new Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital in Shelbyville, Ind. He then became the facility’s medical director. Dr. Adams also has been recognized as an Honored Mentor of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Furthermore, he has been praised for his ability to utilize new and innovative surgical techniques such as when he was involved with the first unilateral lung resection in an adult horse to treat an extensive granular cell tumor.  Additionally, Dr. Adams has been recognized for his empathy and compassion toward his patients and for always making students’ learning a top priority.

A native of upstate New York, Dr. Adams has been in Indiana long enough to be considered a “Hoosier.” To celebrate his retirement, colleagues as well as Large Animal Hospital clients who have had their horses treated by Dr. Adams shared memories.  Messages that were submitted for the tribute included several letters as well as a video showing Dr. Adams sledding with members of the PVM family. 

One of the letters shared at the Equine Wellness Forum came from a client who wrote, “I am a relative newcomer to the Equine Clinic, but my experience has been better than I could ever have expected.” The client, Liz Canty, continued, “I brought my 19-year-old Qu mare to the clinic for severe founder [laminitis]. Dr. Adams showed me a case study and gave me the necessary information so I could proceed with a bilateral tenotomy with confidence. She will turn 21 this spring, and has never been as sound as she is now. I can even ride her again, which was a gift I had not expected. Huge thank you to Dr. Adams and best wishes for a wonderful retirement!”  Her message summed up the feelings of many who honored Dr. Adams virtually that day during the Equine Wellness Forum for his outstanding career and legacy of excellence in education, research and service. Click here to view the tribute video played during the forum, which includes the sledding video as well as some of the tribute letters.

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Do Pigs Fly? Well, A PVM Scholar Says They Do Game

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The idea of pigs playing video games might seem like something that only would happen “…when pigs fly.” But think again, because research has shown pigs are a lot smarter than you might expect.

Over the past two decades studies of the intelligence of farm animals have greatly expanded. Among these animals, pigs are frequently reported to be quite smart and adaptable, with scientists confirming that pigs have been able to perform complex tasks despite their limited dexterity and other motor characteristics.

Dr. Candace Croney, director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science at Purdue University, has done extensive research on pig behavior. One such study conducted a number of years ago while she was at Pennsylvania State University, sought to take the research to the next level by introducing pigs to the gaming world.  Recently the study data were reanalyzed and published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, drawing extensive interest from media internationally.

A professor of animal behavior and well-being with a joint appointment in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture, Dr. Croney explained that the video game used in the study was a relatively simple training task initially designed for comparative cognition studies of non-human primates. The research team used the NASA/LRC computerized test system, which included an IBM 386 computer with a 33 cm color monitor. The pigs used a joystick to hit targets that would appear as borders along the edges of the screen. If the pigs were able to do easier stages of the task successfully then the game would become more challenging.  The initial four target walls generated around the screen would be reduced to three, then two, then one and ultimately, became a small, moving box.  Target locations were randomly generated and errors were recorded by the computer if the pigs made contact with any wall that was no longer a target. Finding that all pigs performed significantly above chance at making correct responses on the most difficult phase of the task indicated that they understood that the movement of the joystick they were utilizing controlled the movement of the objects on the screens.  Making the conceptual leap that the object they were acting on was controlling the movement of a different two-dimensional object located elsewhere showed that they have cognitive capabilities and behavioral flexibility far beyond simple stimulus-response learning, involved in obeying basic commands such as “sit” and “stay” or just pressing a button or rooting at a joystick to get a reward.

Dr. Croney said with the use of not only food, but also positive social interactions, the pigs’ success in playing the games increased exponentially. “Well, you know, they’re pigs and so they are food motivated,” said Dr. Croney. “So we definitely used treats. One of the things that we did also use very effectively was just positive social interactions with them, petting, verbal reinforcement. All those seem to be really motivating to them, and frankly, sometimes even more motivating than food, particularly when things got frustrating for them.”

Four pigs participated in the study, two of which were Yorkshire pigs named Hamlet and Omelet while the other two were Panepinto micro pigs named Ebony and Ivory. Hamlet and Omelet scored 80% and 74% correct responses, respectively, on three-walled targets and 78% and 70% correct responses on the two-walled targets. Performance on the one-walled targets was less successful with a score of 48% for Hamlet and 42% for Omelet.

As for Ebony and Ivory, they both scored 84% on the three-walled tests. Their scores on the two-walled tests were 68% and 56%, respectively, while their scores on the one-walled tests were 34% and 76%. Omelette unfortunately developed health issues and had to be euthanized shortly after the study ended, while Hamlet lived the remainder of his life on a bed and breakfast farm and Ebony and Ivory spent the rest of their days at a children’s zoo.

“While our pigs were nowhere near as competent as monkeys and chimpanzees, what’s really cool is that they could do the task to any degree,” Dr. Croney said. “And that they were actually able to overcome the major conceptual hurdle of understanding that their manipulation of the joystick was having an effect elsewhere, and that controlling that effect is what elicited a reward is the thing that I find really remarkable.”

This study was funded by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, in addition to grants provided by USDA Cooperative Agreement 58-3602-5-143, Genex, the National Pork Producers Council; and the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council.

Since the publication of the reanalyzed study last month, media across the globe have spotlighted the study including the BBC, CNN, U.S. News, CNET, The Smithsonian Magazine, Daily Mail, HuffPost, the Guardian, The Times and more, including numerous gamer sites. Click here to watch a recent BBC news clip on the study.

While people have particularly enjoyed the idea that pigs can be gamers, the purpose of the work was to explore objective methods of assessing the cognitive abilities of pigs, and to consider these in the context of pig ethology, comparative psychology, animal welfare, and ethics.  Though this particular study involving pigs learning to play video games isn’t ongoing, Dr. Croney and her team are in the early stages of exploring options to revisit and develop new efforts in this area in collaboration with other groups.  Because the joystick interface limited the degree to which the pigs could demonstrate their grasp of key concepts, Dr. Croney’s team followed up with studies using live objects – a process they actually would have done utilizing the computer if they been able to go further with the original group of pigs.  They have since studied the degree to which the micro pigs could demonstrate understanding of concepts like “sameness” and that paper is expected to be published next.

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

BMS Professor Co-leads Research on Tissue-engineered Implants that Offer Hope for Patients with Vocal Injuries

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New technology from innovators at Purdue University and the Indiana University School of Medicine may one day help patients who suffer devastating vocal injuries from surgery on the larynx.  A collaborative team consisting of Purdue biomedical engineers and clinicians from IU has tissue-engineered component tissue replacements that support reconstruction of the larynx.

The innovation team is led by Stacey Halum, MD, FACS, a fellowship-trained laryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery, along with Sherry Harbin, PhD, who holds a joint appointment as a professor of basic medical sciences in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of biomedical engineering in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The team’s work is published in The Laryngoscope.

The larynx is a very complex human organ consisting of outer cartilage for structural support, inner muscle that contracts to permit voicing, swallowing, and breathing, and inner vibratory lining.  Currently, thousands of patients each year with laryngeal cancer or trauma require a procedure called total laryngectomy in which the entire larynx is removed, and patients are left without a human voice and breathing through a hole in their neck called a stoma.

“There are very few options for laryngeal reconstruction and no options for restoration of laryngeal appearance, structure and function,” said Dr. Halum, an associate professor in the IU School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery who has an adjunct appointment in Purdue’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and sees patients at the IU Health Voice Center in Carmel, Ind. “While surgeons occasionally use local or free tissue transfers to repair laryngeal defects, these local or regional tissues just ‘plug holes’ or close the defects without really restoring function because the transferred tissues are not dynamic – they do not move or contract. They also tend to lose bulk and scar over time.”

The research team used a patented collagen polymer developed by Dr. Harbin’s lab to fabricate the three regenerative replacement tissues for the laryngeal reconstruction procedure.  “Our approach is unique in that we are using customized engineered tissue replacements, with the muscle component fabricated using the patient’s own muscle progenitor cells,” Dr. Harbin said. “We believe these engineering approaches will provide patients with better options for reconstruction so that total laryngectomies become something of the past.”

Dr. Harbin and Dr. Halum believe the technology has widespread applications for custom fabrication of engineered tissue replacements for tissue restoration in other parts of the body.  Dr. Harbin founded GeniPhys, a Purdue startup focused on the commercialization of the collagen polymer technology.

The research project is funded by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.  The innovators worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent the technology. The researchers are looking for partners to continue developing and commercializing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact Dr. Harbin at harbins@purdue.edu.

Click here to view a complete news release.

Writer(s): Chris Adam, Purdue Research Foundation | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Informational Technology Transformations: New Leadership Guides PVMIT

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The Purdue Veterinary Medicine Information Technology department (PVMIT) is the onsite exclusive IT department for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.  That responsibility proved to be challenging over the past year, after the global COVID-19 pandemic was declared last March. 

PVMIT has undergone several transformations during the past 12 months. Guided by new leadership, the PVMIT team has adapted to the special needs of the college brought on by the pandemic while continuing to serve the PVM community and their day-to-day needs.

The team as a whole is made up of four sub-teams.  They are led by Nancy Allrich, who joined PVMIT last year in a new leadership capacity.  She provides oversight of daily and strategic IT operations and also directs and manages the application development, systems, support services, and instructional design teams. Additionally, Nancy leads PVMIT’s efforts in development and implementation of integrated technology.

In addition to having new leadership, PVMIT has adapted to the changing technology trends and demands brought about by COVID-19. The team has continued to provide support and technology expertise as many college operations have moved to a virtual environment.

Of the four sub-teams, the Support Team, led by Tony Scalone, is comprised of several individuals who are in charge of a wide variety of IT duties, including helping to fix Boilerkey issues, assisting with printing issues, installing software, video conferencing support, and more. This team services all individuals in the college, whether they are DVM students, veterinary nursing students, faculty, or staff. Additionally, the team services the needs of students who are either learning remotely or taking classes in-person. The support team also includes several system engineers who help to support the many systems and technologies used throughout the college.

Another team integral to PVMIT is the Instructional Design Team. This multifaceted group is tasked with a myriad of duties. Among those is handling the application of educational technologies, which includes creating courses and Brightspace and making sure the course web sites work properly and meet the needs of each class. Additional responsibilities include video recordings, exam support, and innovative course content creation, such as the development of online case studies. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been an increase in the demand for educational technologies and creative course strategies. To help provide the most up-to-date information, the team has put together the PVM Instructional Resources site (login required) which has many helpful documents and links to many educational tools. In addition, the team also is tasked with managing the permissions and overview training associated with the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital’s electronic medical records system.

Another vital PVMIT group is the Application Development Team led by Eric Biggs. This team is made up of the programmers and developers who create various programs and databases including the Hospital Information System (HIS), DogTraxx, and Vitals. The Application Development Team continues to manage and improve their programs while continuing to develop new and innovative resources. 

The fourth PVMIT team is the Systems Team, led by Dennis Barnett. This team works behind the scenes to help manage numerous components of the college’s technology. Ranging from servers to security, the team leads efforts to integrate the many technologies in the college. The Systems Team also has played an important role in preparing for the use of smart technologies that are to be utilized in the new veterinary hospital facilities.

In addition to managing the IT needs of the college, PVMIT also supports the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, and the West Lafayette campus of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Nancy and the other PVMIT leaders were instrumental in coordinating the department’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked to ensure the safety of their team without compromising high quality customer service, all while rising to the heightened expectations of the college.

PVMIT has put together a short video highlighting some of the different services and team members. Click here to view the video. 

If you need to contact PVMIT, you can do so by sending an email to pvmit@purdue.edu, calling extension 41153, or visiting Lynn G193A. PVMIT looks forward to assisting you!

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern, and Kristy Myers | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Alumna Kelly Metcalf Pate to lead MIT’s Division of Comparative Medicine

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The next giant leap for Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate Kelly Metcalf Pate (PU DVM 2007) came March 1 when she assumed the role of director of MIT’s Division of Comparative Medicine.  A specialist in platelet immunology and veterinary medicine, Dr. Metcalf Pate succeeds Dr. James Fox, who is retiring after 45 years of service in the position. In conjunction with her new position, Dr. Metcalf Pate also joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Engineering.

Dr. Metcalf Pate most recently served as an assistant professor of veterinary medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she also held the position of associate director of academic training for the research training programs for veterinarians in the Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathology. She also launched and directed the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, a summer research program for veterinary students. Her research has focused on how platelet cells interact with other immune cells during viral infections such as HIV and cytomegalovirus.

“My core passions lie in teaching and research,” Dr. Metcalf Pate said in a February 25 article by Anne Trafton in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology publication, MIT News. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with veterinarian trainees and veterinary students, and in continuing to do research that not only answers the unknown questions in platelet immunology, but also helps us to figure out better ways to work with animal models.” 

The Division of Comparative Medicine includes more than 175 researchers, animal care and veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and administrative staff, who oversee animal care at MIT. Its mission includes maintaining the health of the animals as well as performing biomedical research and training students in research and veterinary medicine.

“I am thrilled to welcome Kelly as our new DCM director,” said Maria Zuber, MIT’s vice president for research. “She brings a strong research program, enviable managerial skills, a collaborative nature, and a lot of ideas for how DCM can provide even more value to our researchers.”

Originally established in 1975 as the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, the division was renamed in 1980 to reflect growing involvement in research and teaching. Dr. Fox has directed the division since its inception, and under his leadership, the DCM has greatly expanded MIT’s medical research program and added new on-campus facilities for animal care and research.

Dr. Metcalf Pate, the Dorothy W. Poitras Associate Professor of Biological Engineering at MIT, told the MIT News publication that she plans to maintain and build on the structure that Dr. Fox has established over the past 45 years.  “I am honored to be inheriting such an amazing legacy and team in DCM. Dr. Fox has built something at MIT that is unrivaled in providing excellent care for the animals while working collaboratively with the research teams. It also benefits from strong support from the leadership and the MIT community, for which I am thankful. I hope to preserve and build upon this during my own time as director.”

Dr. Metcalf Pate noted that researchers in the DCM already have extensive collaborations in place with other departments around MIT, and she hopes to further expand these collaborations, as well as increase DCM’s research and training partnerships with other institutions in the Boston area.  One of her longer-term goals is to explore the possibility of establishing a center to focus on “refinement research” — the practice of looking at how animal models are used to try to maximize both the quality of data and the welfare of the animals.

Joining the MIT community is something of a homecoming for Dr. Metcalf Pate, who grew up in Massachusetts and earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University in 2003 before enrolling in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her DVM degree in 2007. She also holds a PhD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“I am delighted that Kelly Pate will be assuming the position of director of DCM, with a tenured faculty appointment in BE,” Dr. Fox said. “Kelly embodies the tradition of veterinarians from Johns Hopkins, in being committed to conducting first-rate peer reviewed research, an enthusiastic mentor and teacher, and fulfilling the critical responsibility of directing an indispensable, centralized campus-wide animal resource program. She will undoubtedly foster, enhance, and continue the tradition of excellence that has become the trademark of DCM.”

Click here to view the complete MIT News article about Dr. Metcalf Pate’s new appointment.

Writer(s): Anne Trafton, MIT News Office, and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu