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Shining a Light on a Rare Disease – Comparative Pathobiology Researcher Links Learning and Discovery for Former Patient

July 29, 2026

In December 2024, at age 15, Jackie Albrecht woke up to excruciating eye pain. The pending holiday season turned into a frantic race for Jackie and her family to find a viable treatment for a mysterious, painful disease. After visits to multiple doctors and specialists, Jackie was diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis, or AK, a rare condition caused by a microscopic amoeba (Acanthamoeba) that binds onto contact lenses, often when someone showers, swims, bathes or simply rinses their lenses in tap water.

Thankfully, Jackie received a definitive diagnosis and proper treatment quickly, and she’s experienced no long-term effects. Now an advocate for AK disease awareness, Jackie spent several weeks this summer in the lab of Dr. Christopher Rice, assistant professor of parasitology in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, who’s seeking to develop more effective medications for this rare disease.

A laboratory scientist is wearing gloves and a white coat, and is holding up a case of red fluids, examining them.

Defending the Flock – Purdue Researchers Lead USDA Study on Foggers for Avian Influenza

July 29, 2026

The interior of a commercial poultry house is a high-density place where a single particle of an airborne respiratory virus can replicate quickly, infecting and sickening all the birds within days. Right now, when highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strikes, farmers have no choice but to depopulate their entire flock, and often those on neighboring farms as well, to halt the spread of the deadly disease.
Imagine, however, if poultry producers could deploy a device that cleanses the air and surfaces of their facilities with no harm to the chickens. With support from a new $2 million grant from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, assistant professor of poultry in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, is collaborating with university and industry partners on research to develop innovative approaches to prevent and control infectious diseases affecting poultry.

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Hidden Patterns, New Possibilities – Purdue Researchers Combine Neuroscience and Machine Learning to Uncover Clues about How Seizures Develop and Spread

July 29, 2026

For decades, scientists have viewed seizures as moments when the brain’s neurons fire together in a synchronized storm of electrical activity. New research from Purdue University reveals the brain’s story is far more complex, and that even during seizure-like activity, neurons organize into distinct functional subnetworks with their own unique firing patterns.
The discovery offers new insight into how seizures develop and spread while demonstrating how artificial intelligence can help scientists uncover biological relationships that previously remained hidden. The interdisciplinary research is led by Riyi Shi, the Mari Hulman George Endowed Professor of Applied Neuroscience in Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Center for Paralysis Research, who partnered with faculty in Purdue’s College of Science, including Ananth Grama, the Samuel D. Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and director of Purdue’s Institute for Physical AI.

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine Launches Pet Care App for Apple Platforms

July 29, 2026

As part of a partnership with Purdue University’s Spatial Computing Hub, the College of Veterinary Medicine launched Purdue Vet Med (PVM) Pro Tips for companion animal owners. The app, which is available for Apple Vision Pro, iPad and iPhone, offers step-by-step tutorials for providing at-home care to cats, dogs, horses and birds.

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2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference Line-up Aligns with One Health Theme

July 29, 2026

A longstanding Purdue tradition that offers top quality continuing education for veterinary professionals in the exciting setting of the university’s West Lafayette campus is coming soon! The 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference will be held September 23–26, and there’s still time to register! The annual event brings together veterinary professionals, educators, students, and industry partners for a week focused on continuing education, collaboration, and practical learning.

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No Lull in Learning – Purdue Veterinary Medicine Spearheads Summer Learning through Creative Programs for Wide Range of Students

July 29, 2026

Far from taking the summer off, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine uses the summer season to deliver camps and other programs designed for young people interested in careers in veterinary medicine. From the ever popular Boiler Vet Camps to the Summer Research Program, the college offers an open door for those exploring future opportunities in the veterinary profession.

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PVM Faculty Recognized at Purdue University Honors Ceremony and Celebration

July 29, 2026

Several Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty were among the honorees introduced when Purdue University leaders recognized outstanding faculty members and announced the 2026 winners of premier university awards during the Office of the Provost’s annual spring Faculty Honors Ceremony and Celebration. The program on May 6 in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms included the presentation of the prestigious Morrill Award and Charles B. Murphy Award, both of which were won by PVM professors.

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2026 PVM Distinguished Alumni Honored at Inaugural Dean’s Dinner of Distinction

July 29, 2026

A new tradition began in April as the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted the first Dean’s Dinner of Distinction to celebrate the college’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni and recognize Purdue Veterinary Medicine accomplishments over the past year. Held April 17 in the festive setting of the Buchanan Club in the Ross-Ade Pavilion, the event attracted 180 guests.

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Development Office Highlights for Fiscal Year 2026 Reflect Tremendous Generosity

July 29, 2026

The fiscal year that ended June 30 of 2026 was a landmark year for the College of Veterinary Medicine, marked by exceptional generosity and meaningful engagement from our alumni, friends, and supporters.

A horse is standing in a fenced in area, and is wearing a mask to cover half of its face.

After the Storm – Utilizing Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Purdue Veterinary Hospital Team Provides Emergency Treatment for Equine Victim of Powerful Storm in Michigan

July 29, 2026

For a horse named Sassy, Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Brunner Equine Hospital proved to be the right place at the right time to recover from a scary accident that happened during a violent spring storm in Michigan. According to Dr. Danielle Cucuzella, Purdue visiting assistant professor of large animal surgery, the Quarter Horse was seriously hurt during near 100 mile-per-hour winds where she lived in Saint Louis, Michigan.
Dr. Cucuzella said after initial treatment for severe trauma to her face, skull, sinuses, and left orbit, and once she was stable enough for travel, Sassy was sent to Purdue because of the standing CT machine at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Brunner Equine Hospital, which makes it possible for the head to be scanned with the horse standing.