About us
Our mission is to foster interactions between clinical specialists, translational researchers, and basic researchers in the area of companion animal studies that will directly result in improved quality of life for animals and indirectly improve human health through interactions with their companion animals.
By coordinating clinical research strengths with expertise in companion animal medicine and surgery, our center aims to advance the teaching of veterinary students, clinical interns, clinical residents, and graduate students in the Department of Clinical Sciences by involving these professionals in the design and conduct of clinically relevant research projects.
As many of our projects are associated with new diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines for common diseases seen in veterinary clinics, the use of research animals is minimized. Many of the center’s studies have involved animals in need and housed in shelters, who benefit from positive control studies (all animals get treated).
One Health Certificate Course
Center Director Dr. Michael R. Lappin is the infectious disease advisor to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) One Health Committee, and collaborates with WSAVA to sponsor a One Health Certificate Course to foster the practice of One Health concepts in our veterinary clinics. This course is being migrated to the WSAVA Academy site in 2025 but interested parties are welcome to view the posted videos while the course is being re-opened. Please contact Dr. Lappin by email if you have any questions about the course or materials.
Access One Health certificate courses
Young Investigator Awards
The Center also coordinates the Young Investigator Awards program, which generates funds to help young investigators achieve their clinical research goals. Each of these seed money grants includes a D.V.M. student as a scientific investigator. In 2024, Purina PetCare made a $1,500,000 donation to endow this program in perpetuity. The interest from the endowment allows us to fund up to 10 grants per year, with up to 2 grants focusing on nutrition topics.
People
