News from College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU

The Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at Colorado State University has amassed one of the largest archives of longitudinally collected human samples of COVID-19 through their research in skilled nursing facilities.

CSU-SACNAS working to create inclusive community in STEM

While SACNAS was initially meant to bring representation to a few minority groups, it has evolved to become inclusive of all minoritized groups in STEM.

Staying Human: Bevin Luna finds solace in music and nature

"Take every day very slowly and take time to yourself to do the things that make your heart happy. Don’t get overwhelmed by the weight of what’s going on on the world in the world on a global scale. Take a step away from that and just really find what makes you happy truly in your core." -Bevin Luna

Women's work: Female researchers take the lead

Women lead two of CSU’s four COVID-19 vaccine projects, both built on centuries-old solutions to ruinous infectious disease and both certain to advance knowledge, regardless of which international laboratory gets to the vaccine finish line first.

Spillover: Finding motivation in the pandemic

I’m a senior majoring in microbiology at Colorado State University. As an undergraduate researcher, I’m studying the spillover of infectious disease from one species to another – the mechanism that most likely led to emergence of COVID-19.

Dr. Jennifer Rawlinson to lead national veterinary dental association

Rawlinson will become president of the American Veterinary Dental College in October 2020.

Impact Magazine

Beyond the basics: "Foundational science is the point of discovery"

I’ll give you a current example – the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China. Foundational science asks: Where did this virus come from? How does it relate to the other viruses we already know about? Within weeks, the scientific community sequenced the entire genome of the novel strain and determined its relatedness to other coronaviruses.

High exposure: Class of 2019 alumnus climbs for cancer

In May 2019, Grant Haley graduated from Colorado State with a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular neuroscience and a fierce longing to be part of something bigger than himself. His long-term goals included medical school and a career in oncology or psychiatry, but he wanted to do something unforgettable with his last summer in Colorado.

Class of 2020: How will you care for your world?

We polled a cross-section of our graduating students about their hopes and dreams, and even though the coronavirus pandemic has changed commencement plans, their futures look bright!

Walking in beauty: A Navajo scientist confronts the legacy of uranium mining

"Walk in beauty" is a Navajo phrase that I heard a lot growing up. When you walk in beauty, you are in harmony with yourself and with everything around you. You are doing the best you can. I am trying to do the best I can as a Navajo woman and a scientist, to strive for harmony and balance in my work, but the journey is long, complicated, and full of difficult questions.

First person: Journey to the stars

My journey started in 1969, as I – and the whole world – stood still and watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. Fast forward 50 years, and Christina Koch and Scott Kelly spend nearly a year in space on board the International Space Station. These out-of-this-world events bring my own, very earthly path into perspective.

Wild bison: Education and ecology for the benefit of all

Traditional knowledge and current experience demonstrate that bison are a keystone species with a critical role in ecosystem health. They know how to manage the land and continue to do so once they are reintroduced to the landscape.

Microscopic genius: The big potential of the very small

“From the farm where you produce your food to whoever is going to eat it, microbes play an essential role. It’s a holistic – and necessary – way of looking at things. And now we have the tools to finally look at this bigger picture.” -Zaid Abdo

The college in the news

Purdue University: League of VetaHumanz, Dr. Gretchen Delcambre

My Why: Every conversation I have is connected to animals, animal care, animal health, and public health. How fun is that? You get to talk about animals all the time! Veterinarians have the most interesting and gross (fun!) conversations even at the dinner table.

Yahoo News: U.S. biological research lab confirms SARS-CoV-2 virus levels reduced within minutes by material in a new protective face mask

Recently completed tests in the United States at the Colorado State University Biological Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) research laboratory have demonstrated, for the first time, that the surface material of a new face mask can eliminate more than 99.99 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain within 30 minutes. No other face mask material has demonstrated this capability to date.

Collegian: ASCSU campaign, Kyle Hill

Kyle Hill is campaigning to lead the Associated Students of Colorado State University senate as speaker of the senate for the 2020-21 school year. Hill has represented the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in the senate since September 2019.

Snopes: What Happens When Guys Add Their Cats to Dating App Profiles

If you’re a guy who owns a cat, what kind of effect does it have on suitors if you post a picture posing with your favorite feline?

Los Alamos Reporter: Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Frogget Provides Medical Acupuncture To Small Animals

Dr. Sarah Frogget, a CSU DVM alumni and veterinarian at Ridgeview Veterinary Clinic in Los Alamos, has started a new mobile veterinary practice in addition to her current position, offering medical acupuncture to small animals such as dogs, cats and birds. The business is called Pajarito Veterinary Services.

The Horse: Three Horses Go From Rehab to Recovery

Melissa King, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, is an associate professor at the Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins, where she specializes in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. King treated JR, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred who had shown as a four-star eventer.

Record-Courier: Mobile vet helps pets heal with acupuncture

Dr. Jeri Clapp, a Colorado State University DVM alumni and longtime veterinarian hopes to heal pets with the help of acupuncture and other eastern veterinary medicine techniques.

Denver 7: Once approved, should people be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine as a matter of public health?

Inside a laboratory on the Colorado State University Campus, researchers are making progress on four COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Gregg Dean is the head of the department of microbiology, immunology and pathology at CSU working on the vaccine and says around the world, researchers are sharing more information than ever before.

People

Tobet, Popat reappointed to helm four-college School of Biomedical Engineering

Stu Tobet and Ketul Popat have been appointed director and associate director, respectively, of the School of Biomedical Engineering, which includes 70 faculty from four colleges.

Professor Richard Bowen honored for lifetime of research excellence

Professor Richard Bowen awarded the AVMA 2020 Lifetime Excellence in Research Award

Dr. Mo Salman recognized for international public service and outreach

In honor of his three decades of animal disease surveillance work, Dr. Mo Salman is the 2020 recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association Public Service Award.

In memory: Dr. Bill Wolff

Dr. William “Bill” Allmond Wolff, 90, (DVM '54) of Columbia, Mo., passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, at Solstice Senior Living at Columbia.

In memory: Gerald N. Callahan

August 6, Gerald Neil Callahan “purposely peeled his fingers loose from the grasses and the hollow stones and fell into the stars.” He was 73.

Dr. Mark Stetter: What I learned from Rick Miranda

When you meet Rick Miranda, you will not initially see the many layers of this legacy leader of Colorado State University. I wanted to share a couple of eye-opening moments to help illustrate what I have seen and learned.

In memory: Dr. Susan Troka Klein

Dr. Susan Klein (DVM '88), loving wife and mother, outdoors woman, and adventurer, was surrounded by family when she passed away peacefully on July 6, 2020 in Avon, Colorado.

Animal Health

First-ever stem cell treatment on a non-human primate a success

Johnson said these findings will be helpful for veterinarians and medical doctors who use stem cell therapy.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital still open; providing critical services

The hospital is open, providing care to large and small animal patients for emergencies, critical follow-up appointments, and pharmacy orders.

Fresh Scoop: Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats

PODCAST: Today we'll talk to Dr. Jessica Quimby, a Morris Animal Foundation funded researcher and expert on feline chronic kidney disease. Dr. Quimby was on faculty at CSU until 2017, and is now is an associate professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Ohio State University.

Can COVID-19 be contracted from pets?

Pet owners should listen to the advice of their veterinarians and public health experts on COVID-19.

Events

COVID-19 Impacts: Perspectives from Women in Science

Sept. 29: Moderated by professor emerita Carol Blair, CSU scientists with diverse expertise will provide their perspectives on a broad array of topics regarding COVID-19. The conversation will stretch from thoughts about the origin and transmission of corona viruses, testing strategies, human and community health impacts, and behavior changes noted during the pandemic.

National Academies workshop will address airborne transmission of COVID-19

The two-day virtual workshop will delve into the rapidly evolving science around how the virus spreads.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Webinar: Zoonotic Spillover and Emerging Viruses

8:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3: Brian Foy, PhD, and Tony Schountz, PhD, Professors in the CSU Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology at Colorado State University will discuss the science behind animal-to-human transmission and how COVID-19 has played out thus far, followed by a live Q&A session.

Veterinary Continuing Education at the Translational Medicine Institute

Personalized instruction and customized audio-video support with the same "instant replay" technology used in video games and televised sports - so you may practice, analyze, and hone your skills and confidence in bringing new ideas and skills back to your daily practice. Our teaching laboratories include 12 complete endoscopic/arthroscopic stations with 4K monitors, and an Immersive Virtual Reality teaching lab.