PVM Research Day Features Presentations, Posters, and Prizes

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine focused the spotlight on research all day Monday, April 9, during the annual PVM Research Day, which featured award-winning research talks and an extensive research poster session.  The Research Day highlights scientific discovery in the College of Veterinary Medicine that enhances the well-being of animals and people.  The event is a longstanding PVM tradition, affiliated with College’s Omicron Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta, which is the honor society of veterinary medicine in the U.S.

Throughout the day, research findings were presented by faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students.  The kick-off lecture by Dr. Sulma Mohammed, associate professor of cancer biology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, attracted a standing-room only audience.  Dr. Mohammed spoke as the recipient of the 2017 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, and addressed the topic, “Disparities in Breast Cancer: A Global Perspective.”  Following her talk, Research Day attendees could choose among oral scientific presentations organized into three tracks:  neuroscience, musculoskeletal, and infectious diseases and immunology.

At mid-day, the attention turned to a host of research posters displayed in a temporary “exhibit hall” set-up in the Veterinary Medical Library.  The posters were evaluated by an esteemed panel of PVM judges who determined first- and second-place winners in three categories:  basic science research, applied/clinical research, and research by DVM students.

During the afternoon, presentations were given by several award recipients and finalists, including the three 2018 Osborne Award competition finalists.  In addition, there were talks by the recipients of the 2018 Phi Zeta Omicron Chapter Graduate Student Research Award, 2018 PVM Graduate Student Research Award, and the Phi Zeta Manuscript Awards for Basic Research and Clinical/Applied Research.  The scientific talks were capped off with a keynote address by a scholar from the Harvard Medical School, who spoke about the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health.   The program concluded with the presentation of this year’s awards and recognition of the new Phi Zeta initiates.

Special thanks to event sponsor Zoetis, and congratulations to the following award recipients:

 

Phi Zeta Abstract and Poster Awards:

Basic Research

1^st place – Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology

2^nd place – Dr. Jackeline Franco, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology

Applied/Clinical Research

1^st place – Dr. Liliana Mutascio, small animal surgery resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

2^nd place – Dr. Kelly Cummings, neurology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Research by DVM Students

1^st place – Jesse Whitfield, DVM Class of 2020

2^nd place – Shery Park, DVM Class of 2020

 

Phi Zeta Manuscript Awards:

Basic Research

Dr. Marine Traverson, who completed her Purdue small animal surgery residency in 2017 – “In Vivo Evaluation of Biodegradability and Biocompatibility of Fe30Mn Alloy” (presented by Dr. Gert Breur for Dr. Traverson)

Clinical/Applied Research

Dr. Sarah Brookes, graduate teaching assistant, Department of Basic Medical Sciences – “3-Dimensional (3D) Tissue-Engineered Skeletal Muscle for Laryngeal Reconstruction”

Phi Zeta Omicron Awards:

1^st place – Dr. Alexandra Dieterly, graduate student, Department of Comparative Pathobiology – “Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer: Insights from Pre-clinical Models”

2^nd place – Dr. Jesus Hermida, large animal surgery resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

 

PVM Graduate Student Awards:

1^st place – Kerri Rodriguez, human-animal interaction graduate student, Department of Comparative Pathobiology – “Efficacy of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military Veterans with PTSD: Research from the PVM’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond”

2^nd place – Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology

 

Osborne Award:

1^st place – Dr. Lindsey Peterson, neurology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “The Root Cause: A Rare Case of Chronic Polyradiculoneuritis in a Dog”

2^nd place – Dr. Beth Kimmitt, ophthalmology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “Ocular Cryptococcus in a Labrador Retriever”

3^rd place – Dr. Ilektra Athanasiadi, radiation oncology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “Palliative Radiation Therapy for Intranasal Malignant Pilomatricoma in a Dog”