Summer/Fall 2013 PDF - University of Minnesota College of ...
Summer/Fall 2013 PDF - University of Minnesota College of ...
Summer/Fall 2013 PDF - University of Minnesota College of ...
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RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS<br />
Animal research…<br />
(continued from previous page)<br />
David Garshelis as he monitored black<br />
bear populations for the <strong>Minnesota</strong><br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources and U<br />
<strong>of</strong> M Department <strong>of</strong> Fisheries, Wildlife,<br />
and Conservation Biology. RAM club<br />
members helped Garshelis measure body<br />
fat, weight, and body size.<br />
“The den we visited had two cubs, so<br />
the club had hands-on experience taking<br />
measurements <strong>of</strong> both the mother and the<br />
cubs,” says Thomson.<br />
Once a month, the group also meets for<br />
a RAM journal club session. This casual<br />
outing occurs either at Stout’ s Pub in<br />
Falcon Heights or Black Bear Crossings<br />
in the Como Lakeside Pavilion in St.<br />
Paul. Dr. Paul Berger, assistant clinical<br />
specialist for research animal resources<br />
and advisor for the RAM journal club,<br />
chooses each month’s journal article and<br />
guides students through it.<br />
“We wanted the journal club to be open<br />
to everyone,” says Thomson. “We made<br />
it casual, and we provide food for the<br />
group.”<br />
Examples <strong>of</strong> recent workshops include<br />
a grant-writing session where students<br />
learned to write effective proposals and<br />
a workshop dedicated to developing the<br />
tools researchers need to speak openly<br />
about the necessity <strong>of</strong> the humane use <strong>of</strong><br />
animals in research.<br />
While the club exposes students to<br />
research animal medicine, opportunities<br />
in the field, and potential career paths, it<br />
also benefits the <strong>University</strong> by providing<br />
educational opportunities involving<br />
cutting-edge research. It may also help<br />
steer dedicated veterinary scientists into an<br />
animal research career.<br />
“The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine is known for<br />
its research capabilities,” says Bianco.<br />
“There is a lot <strong>of</strong> great research going on<br />
at the college, the <strong>University</strong>, and in the<br />
community. We are just opening the door<br />
to all veterinary students to the research<br />
that’s already occurring.”<br />
Gaining an edge through<br />
research training grants<br />
The <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine<br />
(CVM) currently has three large<br />
training grants for both pre- and postdoctoral<br />
students hoping<br />
to pursue a career in<br />
research either in an<br />
academic setting or<br />
in industry. One <strong>of</strong><br />
these training grants<br />
is specifically targeted<br />
to veterinarians. The<br />
Comparative Medicine<br />
and Pathology Training<br />
Grant, an institutional<br />
training grant (T32),<br />
was awarded by the<br />
National Institutes <strong>of</strong> Dr. Cathy Carlson<br />
Health (NIH) and is<br />
currently in its 10th year<br />
<strong>of</strong> funding.<br />
“There is a huge need<br />
both nationally and<br />
internationally for<br />
veterinarians who are<br />
trained in basic and<br />
applied research,” says<br />
Dr. Cathy Carlson,<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor in the<br />
Veterinary Population<br />
Medicine Department<br />
and director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Annette McCoy is researching<br />
the role <strong>of</strong> genetics in<br />
osteochondrosis in horses.<br />
program. Thus, the purpose <strong>of</strong> the<br />
comparative medicine grant is to provide<br />
state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art biomedical research<br />
training for veterinarians.<br />
“Before we had this<br />
funding, students wishing<br />
to pursue a PhD degree<br />
needed to seek out<br />
individual advisors who<br />
had research funding,”<br />
says Carlson. The T32<br />
grant allows students to<br />
choose from more than<br />
30 different mentors,<br />
identifying those whose<br />
research interests match<br />
theirs. Dr. David Brown,<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor and vice chair<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Veterinary and Biomedical<br />
Sciences serves as codirector<br />
<strong>of</strong> the program.<br />
Drs. Eva Furrow and<br />
Annette McCoy are two<br />
<strong>of</strong> four veterinarians<br />
currently supported by the<br />
Comparative Medicine<br />
and Pathology Training<br />
Grant. Both are working<br />
toward PhDs with hopes<br />
8 Pr<strong>of</strong>iles <strong>Summer</strong>/<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2013</strong>