2025 Research Projects

Defining the environmental and physiological contributors to the onset of periocular inflammatory disease in turkey breeder hens

Mentor:  Dr. Kahina Boukherroub 

Scholar: Mikayla Schlosser

In recent years, a growing number of turkey breeder farms have reported cases of periocular inflammatory disease—referred to by veterinarians as blepharitis—in hens, raising significant concerns for both animal welfare and farm productivity. Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid, often begins with symptoms resembling mild upper respiratory illness but can escalate to severe outcomes such as blindness, lethargy, and anorexia. Current treatments, including antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories, have shown limited and inconsistent effectiveness, highlighting the urgent need for a better understanding of this condition. This project seeks to investigate the environmental and physiological risk factors contributing to the onset and progression of blepharitis, evaluate its prevalence within flocks, and uncover potential underlying causes. The findings will be instrumental in developing targeted, science-based interventions that improve hen health, enhance on-farm management strategies, and support the sustainability and resilience of the turkey breeding industry. 

Pre-transportation risk factors impacting well-being in long-haul transported replacement dairy calves

Mentors: Dr. Sandra Godden and Dr. Whitney Knauer

Scholar: Emma Prybylski

As long-distance transportation of young dairy calves becomes more common in modern farming to improve labor efficiency, concerns around calf welfare, including increased stress, immune suppression, and disease risk during the critical pre-weaning period, are also rising. Transporting calves in the first days of life has been linked to impaired immune function and elevated morbidity and mortality, posing both ethical and economic challenges. This study aims to assess the effects of long-haul transport on calf health and immune function by measuring key biological markers before and after transportation. It will also explore the innate immune response to external stimuli as a potential predictor of health outcomes. The findings will support the development of evidence-based management strategies to enhance calf welfare, reduce health complications, and guide producers in selecting and preparing calves for transport—ultimately fostering sustainable, welfare-focused dairy practices.

Exploring associations between changes in activity levels measured by wearable sensors and lameness occurrence in dairy cattle

Mentor: Dr. Gerard Cramer

Scholar: Saniya Keeton

Lameness, a condition causing difficulty in walking due to injury, weakness, or disease in the legs or feet, is a significant welfare issue for cattle and a major concern for the dairy industry. It negatively impacts both cow health and farm profitability, but traditional detection methods, such as visual locomotion scoring, are subjective and time-consuming, often delaying intervention. Recent advancements in wearable sensors and autonomous monitoring systems offer an opportunity for more accurate and timely lameness detection. This research aims to bridge the gap between technology and management by integrating data from wearable sensors with locomotion scores and other cow-specific variables to improve diagnostic accuracy. The project will explore whether activity pattern variations from wearable sensors correlate with lameness events, how activity levels change during lactation, and develop predictive models to classify lameness using activity data and cow-specific information.

Evaluating the feasibility and diagnostic applications of large-scale non-invasive testing of air emissions samples from swine farms 

Mentor: Dr. Maria Pieters

Scholar: Timothy Magdall 

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus has caused significant production challenges for swine farmers, making virus prevention and effective detection critical for minimizing its impact. Traditionally, blood and oral fluid samples are collected from herds after indications of a PRRS outbreak, but air emission sampling has shown potential as a comparable alternative. This method could improve sampling practicality and potentially increase diagnostic accuracy, leading to faster identification and more timely treatment interventions. Early detection enables targeted strategies that can enhance swine welfare and improve pork production. This project aims to assess the feasibility and diagnostic reliability of air emission sampling for PRRS detection. It will also explore prevention strategies based on data gathered from air emissions, aiming to determine the practical application of this method in real-world swine farming systems and propose strategies to reduce financial losses and improve pork production outcomes.

Surveillance network for chytrid fungi in amphibians

Mentor: Dr. Amy Kinsley

Scholar: Emily Banks

Amphibians play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity, yet they are increasingly threatened by infectious diseases, particularly those caused by invasive fungal pathogens. Some of the greatest threats to biodiversity and amphibian conservation are the introduction of the chytrid fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and the continued spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). This research project aims to conduct proactive surveillance for Bsal and Bd through environmental and host sampling to detect low-density infections. Findings will be used to develop a comprehensive risk model that incorporates climate change projections to better understand future disease and species distribution. Developing a risk model to support decision-making around management in the event of an introduction will prevent chytrid fungus from having immense repercussions on amphibian biodiversity and devastating ecosystem effects.

Prion aerosolization via dust particles as a possible route of transmission for Chronic Wasting Disease

Mentor: Dr. Peter Larsen 

Scholar: Lauren Wolfrath

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a highly resilient and fatal prion disease affecting deer and elk populations across North America, with growing concern over its environmental spread and potential cross-species transmission. Infected animals shed prions through bodily waste, contaminating the environment and raising questions about new modes of transmission, particularly via aerosolized dust, as observed in Scrapie, another prion disease. This study aims first to investigate whether CWD prions can bind to dust particles and become airborne, which would significantly expand our understanding of disease transmission pathways and associated risks to wildlife, livestock, and potentially humans. The second objective is to assess the feasibility of detecting airborne prions using air filtration systems in both CWD-positive and CWD-negative environments across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and possibly Texas. Results from this research could have far-reaching implications for disease surveillance, environmental management, and public health.

The clinical presentation and prognosis of lead poisoning in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 

Mentor: Dr. Dana Franzen-Klein

Scholar: Mary Holmes

Human activity has made lead one of the most prevalent environmental toxins, posing a significant threat to birds of prey, including bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). At The Raptor Center (TRC) at the University of Minnesota, over 85% of bald eagles admitted each year show detectable blood lead levels. Lead poisoning in eagles causes severe, irreversible damage to the central nervous system and other organ systems, yet wildlife rehabilitation centers often face challenges in resource allocation due to limited veterinary time and staff. Without an effective triage protocol, valuable resources may be spent on cases with low survival chances, prolonging unnecessary suffering. This project aims to expand TRC’s lead dataset to better understand how clinical parameters predict the outcome of lead poisoning cases in bald eagles. The ultimate goal is to create a clinical algorithm, in the form of a flowchart, that will guide wildlife veterinarians in making informed decisions on whether to treat or humanely euthanize eagles, ultimately improving resource use and animal welfare at wildlife rehabilitation centers.

Supporting the use of veterinary epidemiology in the decision-making process for veterinary services in Latin America 

Mentor: Dr. Andres Perez

Scholar: Andrea Pacheco Soto

Globalization has greatly increased the spread of transboundary diseases, with the rapid movement of people, animals, and goods across borders facilitating the transmission of infectious agents. Diseases such as Cochliomyia hominivorax, H5N1 bird flu, and African Swine Fever pose significant threats to both public health and the global economy. While the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of epidemiology, a deeper understanding of the factors driving disease spread and pathogenesis is essential to improve diagnostics and preventive measures for various diseases. Many veterinary services in Latin America, however, face challenges in fully utilizing veterinary epidemiology to inform decision-making. This project seeks to strengthen veterinary epidemiology in Latin America by improving data collection, analysis, and reporting systems to enhance surveillance and risk assessment. This will be done through partnering with CAHFS to support the ProgRESSVet capstone initiative, first reviewing existing educational materials and then collaborating with a selected country to address emerging transboundary animal diseases. By bolstering the availability and quality of epidemiological data, the project will support evidence-based decisions aimed at improving disease prevention, control, and management.

A new treatment towards feline osteoarthritis

Mentor: Dr. Alonso Guedes

Scholar: Kat Velez

Osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most prevalent chronic and painful conditions affecting dogs and cats, yet effective and safe treatment options remain limited. Currently, cyclooxygenase inhibitors are the primary treatment option for managing OA pain in many species. However, these drugs can cause significant side effects and are not approved for long-term use in cats. This creates a pressing need to identify new analgesic solutions suitable for long-term use in cats. Building on promising results from the Guedes lab using soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors to manage OA-related pain and mobility issues in dogs and horses, this study aims to determine the effects of sEH inhibition on mobility and quality of life in cats with naturally occuring OA and to determine the contribution of sEH to apoptosis of feline chondrocytes. The findings of this study could have a transformative impact by generating essential data to support the development of a novel treatment for feline OA, with the potential for rapid clinical application given that an sEH inhibitor is already in early-phase human trials for neuropathic pain.

Characterization of ion channel genetic variation in animal models of sudden cardiac arrest

Mentor: Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst

Scholar: Regina Kurandina

Fatal arrhythmias are a significant cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in otherwise healthy individuals across species, including humans, horses, and dogs. Particularly concerning are cases of SCA without underlying structural heart disease, as they occur without warning and are nearly impossible to prevent. While genetics are known to play a key role, their contribution remains poorly understood, especially in equine and canine populations. This research builds on a 2024 genome-wide association study of Thoroughbred racehorses to identify and characterize genetic variants in ion channels and related genes across diverse horse and dog breeds. This translational work not only aims to shed light on the genetic underpinnings of SCA in animals but also holds potential to clarify the pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance in human medicine.

Histological and histomorphometric evaluation of healing in a piglet model of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

Mentor: Dr. Alex Armstrong

Scholar: Ashton Amann

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is a pediatric hip disorder caused by interrupted blood flow to the developing femoral head, leading to osteonecrosis, bone marrow damage, and cartilage injury, often resulting in long-term joint deformities and osteoarthritis. Although epiphyseal drilling has shown promise in enhancing healing of the ischemic femoral head, the biological mechanisms behind its effectiveness remain unclear. This project aims to investigate the gross and microscopic (radiologic vs histologic) responses to drilling in a piglet model at 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-procedure. To better understand the effects of drilling on the secondary ossification center, this study will apply various special stains (TRAP, Masson’s Trichrome) and immunohistochemical stains (Factor VIII–Related Antigen, Caspase-3) to femoral head samples collected following drilling. The primary objective of this proposal is to utilize histological staining techniques to evaluate certain biological processes following epiphyseal drilling. Quantification of each stain will further our understanding of the regeneration processes within boney tissues and will be compared to findings found on MRI to potentially inform treatment of LCPD at various time points.

Big data for small animals: Using a large national medical records database to understand current treatments and outcomes for bacterial pneumonia in dogs 

Mentors: Dr. Emma Bolig and Dr. Jen Granick

Scholar: Matt Bermudez

Large-scale analysis of companion animal health data is often limited by the lack of standardized diagnostic coding and the complexity of accessing data across diverse veterinary electronic health record (EHR) systems. The Companion Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (CAVSNET) addresses these challenges by aggregating data from multiple U.S. veterinary practices into a centralized, secure database using a common data model to support research and disease surveillance. This project leverages the power of big data to study antimicrobial prescribing patterns for bacterial pneumonia in dogs—a condition central to antimicrobial stewardship efforts. By comparing current prescribing practices with the guidelines set forth by the International Society of Companion Animal Infectious Diseases, the study will assess veterinarian adherence and identify deviations. These insights will help guide targeted educational initiatives to promote responsible antimicrobial use among small animal veterinarians, ultimately supporting better health outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine.

Animal models of pediatric orthopaedic diseases

Mentor: Dr. Ferenc Toth

Scholar: Callie Hohenhaus

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD) are orthopedic conditions affecting children and young adults, causing pain, disability, and increasing the risk of osteoarthritis later in life. This project aims to develop porcine models to better understand these disorders and explore potential treatments. The JOCD study will use a piglet model to examine the relationship between ischemia in epiphyseal cartilage and the progression of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Additionally, it will investigate how different biomechanical stressors, such as high-impact loading, may trigger OCD lesions and whether low-impact loading can facilitate healing. The LCPD component will involve inducing ischemic injury to the femoral head in piglets, replicating the condition seen in LCPD, to study the repair process. The study will compare the effects of single and double-vessel embolization on necrosis, revascularization, and new bone growth in the hip joint, providing insights into the mechanisms of repair and potential therapeutic approaches for these pediatric orthopedic disorders.

Neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury alters neural circuitry and associated behavior in a murine model

Mentor: Dr. Maxim Cheeran

Scholar: Daniela Salinas

Concussion, a common form of mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI), typically results in full recovery without significant central nervous system effects, unless repeated injuries occur. Athletes and service members are particularly vulnerable to repeated mTBIs, which are increasingly linked to the development of substance use disorders (SUD). This study aims to explore the relationship between repeated mTBIs and the onset of substance use disorders by examining neural network changes caused by neuroinflammation in a murine model. The study will involve inducing mTBIs in mice through cortical impact injury to the medial prefrontal cortex, followed by behavioral testing to assess addiction-like behaviors. The presence of neuroinflammation will be quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry on brain tissue samples, aiming to uncover how mTBIs may contribute to SUD development.

Characterizing genetic variants that increase urinary stone risk in pet dogs to improve understanding of canine and human urinary disease

Mentor: Dr. Eva Furrow

Scholar: Rachel Cheung

Kidney stones are a painful health issue affecting 9% of the population and leading to annual healthcare costs exceeding $10 billion in the United States. Despite available treatments, the prevention and recurrence rates for kidney stones remain problematic. Similarly, dogs are susceptible to urinary stone disease (urolithiasis), with calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones being the most common and challenging to manage due to their inability to be medically dissolved and their high recurrence rates. The causes of CaOx urolithiasis are multifactorial, influenced by environmental factors and genetics. Previous whole genome sequencing of dogs has identified genetic variants related to monogenic stone disorders in specific breeds. By analyzing genomic data from mice and human models, several monogenic disorders have been linked to stone formation. This study aims to expand on these findings by characterizing the clinical and metabolic phenotypes of known monogenic stone disorders and identifying additional novel genetic variants responsible for stone formation in pet dogs.

Role of gut microbiome in 2 models of hypertension

Mentor: Dr. John Collister

Scholar: Jacob Sternbach

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke, the first and third most common causes of death in the United States, affecting 700 million people globally. Despite extensive research, the exact cause of hypertension remains largely unidentified. The role of the gut microbiome in various pathophysiological conditions, including hypertension, has gained attention, but limited research exists on their connection. The purpose of this project is to better understand the role of the brain lesion procedure in the differences seen in the gut microbiome of a rat in order to untangle the effects of the procedure and the effects of the hypertension model. The study aims to determine the impact of targeted brain lesions of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis or median preoptic nucleus on the gut microbiome in rats.

Quantitative MRI of canine Intervertebral Disc Disease

Mentor: Dr. Casey Johnson

Scholar: Abigail Clanton

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a debilitating condition in dogs, causing spinal cord and nerve compression, resulting in chronic pain, paralysis, and incontinence. Current MRI techniques are insufficient for identifying problematic discs or detecting early degenerative changes, limiting proactive treatment options. While advanced quantitative MRI has shown promise in human medicine for assessing disc health and spinal cord injury, these techniques have not been fully explored in canine patients with spontaneous IVDD. This project aims to develop and validate advanced quantitative MRI methods for dogs, correlating MRI biomarkers with clinical signs to differentiate between acute and chronic disc herniation. It will also explore vertebral body changes near degenerated discs to predict future herniation, laying the groundwork for longitudinal studies on IVDD progression and novel therapeutic interventions. The research seeks to provide critical insights into disease management for both dogs and humans.

Evaluating the urinary microbiome in dogs

Mentor: Dr. Emily Coffey

Scholar: Sophie Ramirez

Dysbiosis in the urobiome may play a role in the development of various diseases that affect both humans and dogs, including urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and urolithiasis. Understanding the microbial communities within the urinary tract through genetic analysis can offer insights into disease predisposition and inform treatment strategies. Advances in microbial analysis techniques, such as PCR and next-generation sequencing, have made studying the urobiome more efficient and comprehensive, yet there is still a lack of standardized protocols for DNA extraction and urobiome characterization, particularly in canine studies. This study aims to investigate whether variations in urine sample volume influence DNA concentration, sequence reads, and bacterial diversity in canine urobiomes. It will also compare the effectiveness of different urine sample processing techniques (filtration versus centrifugation and pelleting) on obtaining accurate microbial data. The findings could establish best practices for urobiome characterization in dogs, offering valuable insights into the role of microbial communities in urinary health.

Altering the aged sarcoma microenvironment to enhance immunotherapy

Mentor: Dr. Erin Dickerson

Scholar: Rachel Kendrick-Schwartz

Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare and aggressive cancer affecting mainly older adults, with limited treatment options and poor survival rates. While some patients respond to PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, many do not—potentially due to age-related immune decline. CD8+ memory T cells, critical for cancer immunity, show increased PD-1 and β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) expression with age, leading to reduced function. This study aims to evaluate whether combining β-AR inhibitors with PD-1 blockade can more effectively reactivate these aged T cells. By analyzing receptor expression and testing combined treatments in vitro, the project seeks to enhance immune responses in older individuals and improve outcomes for AS patients.

Advancing translational research: Immunometabolic pathways model refinement and animal welfare in health and disease 

Mentor: Dr. Melanie Graham

Scholar: Ellie Lindauer

Medical procedures are known to cause stress in animals, which can have effects on, fear and anxiety, health outcomes, and quality of life. In laboratory settings, addressing the welfare of the animals used is crucial, as stress attributed to medical procedures can ultimately harm study results, requiring the use of more animals. While studies have shown that sedation can increase stress by requiring fasting and inducing side effects by the drug used, sedation also requires the animal to be away from social groups for a period of time during recovery. Social groups are vital to non-human primates and disruption of this has been shown to elicit feelings of social isolation, disturb social dynamics, and affect the other members of the group, even if they are not the ones getting medical procedures. This study aims to investigate whether the removal of an individual primate for sedation elicits a measurable stress response in the rest of the group. By monitoring behavioral and physiological indicators, the project will evaluate how such disruptions affect group welfare. Identifying and mitigating these controllable sources of stress can help researchers refine laboratory practices to improve animal welfare, reduce variability in scientific data, and potentially decrease the number of animals needed for research.

Advancing UTI diagnostics in companion animals with enhanced quantitative urine culture

Mentor: Dr. Hemant Naikare

Scholar: Katia Bastunskaya

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in cats and dogs and can be recurrent or severe, making accurate diagnosis essential for effective treatment and responsible antibiotic use. Traditional urine culture methods often fall short, with many UTI cases yielding “no growth” results despite ongoing infection. This study aims to evaluate an enhanced quantitative urine culture technique to improve detection of microbial agents in urine samples. By integrating advanced diagnostic tools, the project seeks to enhance UTI diagnosis and treatment in companion animals and contribute to better understanding and management of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine.