On the campus of a research university, discussion often centers on “the next generation of scientists.” But who are they, and what are their big ideas?

Look no further than 2017 Research Day, held by the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on Jan. 28, and you’ll have a good idea.

A total of 128 undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows presented their research findings through talks and posters at CSU’s Lory Student Center. Hundreds of faculty, staff, fellow students and sponsors attended.

“It’s clear that these rising investigators will deliver innovations to solve complex global challenges,” said Dr. Mark Stetter, veterinarian and dean of the college. “I love Research Day because it brings together the primary missions of our land-grant university – teaching, research and service – in one place, on one day.

[1]

“The depth and breadth of these scientific projects is truly impressive,” Stetter continued, “yet they all share our quest for improved health for animals, people, and our planet.”

Before announcing Research Day winners, Dr. Sue VandeWoude, associate dean for research in the college, admitted she felt overcome with emotion when considering the inspiration and hard work of student researchers and faculty investigators.

Dr. Alan Rudolph, CSU vice president for research, presented the following awards.

Zoetis Research Excellence Award

[2]

Dr. Jessica Quimby[3], keynote address, “Feline clinical pharmacology: Exploring species and disease state influences”

2017 Golden Pipette Award

For the department whose students earn the highest average presentation scores

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, victoriously accepted by Dr. Gregg Dean, Department Head

Basic Science – Oral Presentations

[4]

1^st place: Steven Lakin, “MEGARes: An accessible database and bioinformatics interface to metagenomic microbiome and resistome analysis.” Mentor: Dr. Paul Morley

2^nd place: Claudia Rueckert, “Aedes aegypti may simultaneously transmit chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses.” Mentor: Dr. Gregory Ebel

3^rd place: Nunya Chotiwan, “Rapid and specific detection of Asian-lineage Zika virus.” Mentor: Dr. Rushika Perera

Basic Science – Poster Presentations

[5]

1^st place: Kevin Martin, “Busting biofilms: Free-living amoeba as a tool to combat biofilm-associated infections.” Mentor: Dr. Bradley Borlee

2^nd place: Brooke Plumley, “Thermoregulation of biofilm formation in Burkholderia pseudomallei is disrupted by mutation of a putative diguanylate cyclase.” Mentor: Dr. Bradley Borlee

3^rd place: Kirsha Fredrickson, “Viral-mediated oncolysis of cancer cells isolated from canine tumors.” Mentor: Dr. Amy MacNeill

Clinical Science – Oral Presentations 

[6]

1^st place: Tarini Ullal, “Demographics and histological changes in a cohort group of dogs with abnormal hepatic copper concentrations.” Mentor: Dr. David Twedt

2^nd place: Ryan Gan, “A comparison of smoke estimation methods and their association with wildfire smoke and cardiopulmonary-related hospital visits during the 2012 Washington wildfires.” Mentor: Dr. Sheryl Magzamen

3^rd place: Greta Krafsur, “Lessons learned from a century of heartache in the beef cattle industry: Beef cattle with broken hearts as a natural large-animal model of pulmonary hypertension with left ventricular dysfunction owing to intense feeding and fattening regimens augmenting pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary venous, and cardiac remodeling.” Mentor: Dr. Kurt Stenmark, University of Colorado, Denver

Clinical Science – Poster Presentations

[7]

1^st place: Nicholas Dannemiller, “Birds of a feather get sick together? A disease investigation of rainbow lorikeets.” Mentor: Dr. Josephine Braun, San Diego Zoo

2^nd place: Stacie Summers, “Serum cytokines and renal alpha-enolase immunohistochemical staining in cats after repeated administration of a parenteral FVRCP vaccine.” Mentor: Dr. Michael Lappin

3^rd place: Danielle Weaver, “Preliminary experiences with computational analysis of data collected with inertial measurement units from xylazine-induced ataxic horses.” Mentor: Dr. Yvette Nout-Lomas