PVM Research Day Features Presentations, Posters, and Prizes
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Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s annual Research Day Monday, April 9, included an extensive Research Poster Session, which was held in the Veterinary Medical Library. The posters were evaluated by a panel of judges who awarded prizes for first- and second-place in each of three categories: basic science, clinical/applied science, and DVM student research.
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.
The first scientific presentation during the PVM Research Day featured Associate Professor of Cancer Biology Sulma Mohammed of the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, who talked about a global perspective on disparities in breast cancer.
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:
Destiny Evans, of the DVM Class of 2020, discusses her research poster about “The Use of Bacteriophages as a Therapy for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus spp” with classmate Walter-John McGowan during the Research Day Poster Session.
Phi Zeta Abstract and Poster Awards:
Basic Research
1st place – Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology
2nd place – Dr. Jackeline Franco, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Applied/Clinical Research
1st place – Dr. Liliana Mutascio, small animal surgery resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
2nd place – Dr. Kelly Cummings, neurology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Jesse Whitfield (center), of the DVM Class of 2020, with her award-winning research poster on “Psychosocial Effects of Service Dogs on Individuals with Physical Disabilities within Two Age Groups,” and her mentors, Dr. Maggie O’Haire (right), assistant professor of human-animal interaction in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, and human-animal interaction graduate student Kerri Rodriguez.
Research by DVM Students
1st place – Jesse Whitfield, DVM Class of 2020
2nd 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”
Small Animal Surgery Resident Liliana Mutascio talks about her research poster related to small animal intestinal anastomoses with Dr. Tim Lescun, associate professor of large animal surgery. Dr. Mutascio received the 1st place award for her poster in the Applied/Clinical Research category.
Phi Zeta Omicron Awards:
1st place – Dr. Alexandra Dieterly, graduate student, Department of Comparative Pathobiology – “Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer: Insights from Pre-clinical Models”
2nd place – Dr. Jesus Hermida, large animal surgery resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Pictured (left-right): Dr. Sandy Taylor, president of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Zeta with Research Day award recipients Dr. Liliana Mutascio, Dr. Alexandra Dieterly, Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, Jesse Whitfield (DVM Class of 2020), and Dr. Sarah Brookes.
Pictured (left-right): Dr. Jean Stiles, treasurer of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Zeta, presented the Osborne awards to Dr. Ilektra Athanasiadi – 3rd place; Dr. Lindsey Peterson – 1st place; and Dr. Beth Kimmitt – 2nd place.
PVM Graduate Student Awards:
1st 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”
2nd place – Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, graduate research assistant, Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Osborne Award:
1st place – Dr. Lindsey Peterson, neurology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “The Root Cause: A Rare Case of Chronic Polyradiculoneuritis in a Dog”
2nd place – Dr. Beth Kimmitt, ophthalmology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “Ocular Cryptococcus in a Labrador Retriever”
3rd place – Dr. Ilektra Athanasiadi, radiation oncology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences – “Palliative Radiation Therapy for Intranasal Malignant Pilomatricoma in a Dog”
Zoetis sponsored the Research Day and was represented at the event by Dr. Kristy Earley-Murray (left), regional strategic veterinarian, US Veterinary Professional Services in the Companion Animal Division, pictured with Dr. Sandy Taylor (center), Omicron Chapter president, and Dr. Tiffany Lyle, Omicron Chapter secretary.
Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu
