Comparative Biomedical Sciences Training Program

Summary: Veterinarians are at the forefront of the ‘ONE HEALTH’ strategic framework, which facilitates collaborations among human medicine, veterinary medicine and ecosystem health that are of worldwide benefit. The vital importance of veterinarians at the human-animal interface cannot be overstated, as graphically illustrated by the tragic repercussions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and that 6 of 10 human infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature. Reports from the National Academy of Sciences and the strategic plan of the NIH Office of Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) emphasized the national need for veterinarians trained in biomedical research to effectively deal with effects of climate change on animals and public health, thwart the emergence of zoonotic diseases, and promote human and animal health. We will address the national need for veterinary biomedical scientists through these specific aims: Aim 1: Develop the next generation of independent veterinary medical researchers equipped with skill sets in innovative and critical thinking, problem solving, robust experimental methodologies and rigorous data interpretation. Aim 2: Continually innovate professional development opportunities for veterinary medical scientists in grantsmanship, science communication, team science, evidence-based mentor and mentee practices, and forward-thinking leadership. The School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison offer an exceptional research training environment and are ideally positioned to provide outstanding training to graduate veterinarians in cutting-edge biomedical research. The excellent research training offered by this program is highlighted by the (1) broad multidisciplinary portfolio of an outstanding group of trainers with a history of sustained funding, productivity and commitment to graduate training; (2) nationally ranked multidisciplinary research training program (Comparative Biomedical Sciences PhD program) with major strengths in infectious disease and immunology, physiologic basis of health and disease, and developmental biology/regenerative medicine; (3) proven ability to recruit and train a diverse group of outstanding veterinarians in biomedical research; (4) strong research ethics and professional skills course and access to an array of career/professional development programs; (5) commitment to minority student recruitment; and (6) strong institutional and administrative support from the SVM and campus. We request funds to support four postdoctoral DVM trainees per year to pursue PhD training in a 5-year period. The overall goal is to train veterinary biomedical scientists in hypothesis-driven science who can assume leadership roles in biomedical research, academic instruction, industry innovations, and government service in the 21st century.