Iowa State University CVM Veterinary Students Engage in One Health Research

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary students and veterinary resident trainees participate in research projects related to One Health with funding by the Dr. Roger and Marilyn Mahr Professorship in One Health. The One Health Initiative at the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine has a major focus on education, especially student-centered learning, and One Health education advocacy to train future generations about basic and applied research that enhances animal, human, and environmental health. This program has an expanded partnership with the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE), https://www.niamrre.org/, directed by Dr. Paul Plummer. This partnership enhances the goals of both the CVM’s One Health Initiative and the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE).

Here is an example listing of funded student projects and mentors:

  • Belen Hernandez, DVM, Veterinary Pathology Resident/PhD student
    Understanding the potential of zoonotic transmission, co-evolution, environmental exposure and antibiotic resistance of Clostridium difficile in humans and companion animals with molecular characterization
     
  • Alexandria Yoerger, DVM Class of 2022
    Project director: Dr. Paul Plummer 
    Determining the types of antibiotic resistance bacteria of healthy and ill companion animals, and the resistance profile of these clinical bacterial isolates to better mitigate the potential for nosocomial infections.
     
  • Phase I by Elizabeth M. Hines, DVM Class of 2021
    Phase 2 by Aletta Anderson Class of 2023
    Project director: Dr. Claire Andreasen
    Correlating the presence of circulating immature red blood cells in dogs to disease syndromes seen in canine and human patients aids in understanding disease similarities and prognosis
     
  • Gabriella Henthorn, DVM Class of 2023
    Project directors: Dr. Laura Van Vertloo, Dr. Claire Andreasen.
    Hematologic findings in cats and dogs PCR positive for Bartonella sp.
     
  • Savannah Saboda, DVM Class of 2023
    Project directors: Dr. June Olds, Dr. Paul Plummer, Dr. Amanda Kreuder
    Evaluation for antimicrobial resistance in U.S. captive Bonobos (Pan pansicus)
     
  • Kris Kovach, DVM Class of 2023
    Project directors: Dr. Matt Brewer, Dr. Katy Martin
    Swine model for studying drug resistance in human trichomoniasis
     
  • Karen Chen DVM Class of 2022, Catherine Ephlin DVM Class of 2023
    Project directors: Dr. Amanda Kreuder, Dr. Orhan Sahin
    Investigation of methods for surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species in the veterinary clinical hospital setting
     
  • Elisabeth Amerson, DVM Class of 2024
    Project directors: Dr. Claire Andreasen, Dr. Ellie Putz (USDA-ARS)
    Cytochemical characterization of hamster neutrophils