Veterinary Students: You may contact any of these faculty members to discuss potential projects and the writing of a proposal for a summer research project.
Luiz Bermudez, PhD
Luiz.Bermudez@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6538
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is the infectious organism responsible for Johne’s disease in ruminants. In the laboratory, we study the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the initial interaction between M. paratuberculosis and the host intestinal mucosa and bacterial survival in macrophages. The current focus is on identification of the function of bacterial genes involved in M. paratuberculosis interaction with the intestinal mucosa and the examination of the main strategies used by M. paratuberculosis to survive in bovine macrophages.
Rob Bildfell, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVP – Anatomic Pathology
Rob.Bildfell@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6965
My research interests are primarily in the area of infectious disease, especially those affecting wildlife and zoo animal species. Disease investigations undertaken as student projects have included: Baylisascaris in raccoons, development of a PCR test for ehrlichiosis in deer, deer pox virus infection in black-tailed deer, and leptospirosis in marine mammals.
Linda Blythe, DVM - Neuroscience; with Dr. Morrie Craig and participating large animal clinicians
linda.blythe@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6945
Physical therapy is an expanding field of science for veterinary medicine. A new technique of low level laser therapy has been shown to enhance healing and reduce pain in musculoskeletal injuries in human beings. A new 10Watt K-laser is being purchased by the Biomedical Sciences Department for use in large animals. The focus of this summer project will be to document beneficial effects on healing of musculoskeletal injuries using laser therapy in large animals with clinical recovery, classical biochemistry parameters and acute phase proteins as markers of improvement. This project would be interest to students interested in rehabilitation and large animal care.
Barret Bulmer, MS, DVM and David Sisson, DVM - Cardiovascular Disease
David.Sisson@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6881
BarretBulmer@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6881
Dr. Bulmer and Dr. Sisson are currently investigating protein alterations in the myocardium of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, and in valves of dogs with degenerative valvular disease. This research involves two-dimensional protein separation, comparison and identification. The goal of these studies is to try and elucidate underlying mechanisms responsible for the most common acquired feline and canine cardiac diseases.
Chris Cebra VMD, MA, MS, Diplomate ACVIM – Large Animal Internal Medicine
Chris.Cebra@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-5568
I am interested in most aspects of health care of New World camelids. Current projects center on energy metabolism, GI diseases, parasitic diseases, diagnostic modalities, and diagnostic tools for veterinarians. There is a lot to do, and Oregon State has taken the lead on much of it.
Charles Estill, DVM - Rural Practice, with Drs., Aurora Villarroel - Rural Practice, Sudeep Perumbakkam, and Morrie Craig - Toxicology;
Charles.Estill@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-7667
We are researchers involved with basic and applied research into practical problems in veterinary medicine with importance to the world. Greenhouse gases have increasingly become a concern to environmentalists due to their possible effect on global warming and loss of the ozone layer. The fourth largest of the contributors to greenhouse gases are considered to be ruminants, principally due to their production of methane and nitrous oxide. Methane is a natural byproduct of ruminant digestion, particularly the activity of “archae” bacteria, and can be modified by nutrient intake. This will planning a practical approach to help dairymen incorporate methane reduction.
Jean A. Hall, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM
Jean.Hall@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6537
My research interests are focused on how nutrition affects the immune response. I am interested in nutrigenomic technology, or the study of how nutraceuticals affect the expression of genes involved in the immune response. This could be examined in dogs fed different levels of dietary fatty acids, a mouse asthma model, and in sheep supplemented with selenium by monitoring its effects on the incidence of foot rot. Currently, I am investigating the two important mechanisms of neutrophil killing, i.e., the ability of neutrophils to phagocytose and kill pathogens, as well as their killing mechanisms associated with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). I am also looking at the relative abundance of selected mRNAs that are specific for inflammation, for example, neutrophil migration and killing functions.
Debra L. Hickman, DVM, MS, DACLAM
Portland VA Medical Center
hickmand@ohsu.edu
Debra.Hickman@med.va.gov
(503) 273-5032
My laboratory is interested in developing ways to assess and enhance the welfare of animals used in research. This summer, we have two projects that we intend to pursue. For the first study, we will evaluate the potential distress associated with commonly accepted methods of blood collection in mice. These methods include retro-orbital, the tail vein, the saphenous, and the facial vein. We plan to conduct a series of experiments testing the hypotheses (1) that there is a difference in corticosterone hormone levels and behavioral responses to the various sampling methods, (2) that the stress responses differ in recovery time, and (3) that, at the times of sampling required by the experiments, the different methods of sampling produce equivalent measures of the substance being quantified. The vet student will be expected to participate in the experimental design, become proficient in at least one of these blood collection methods, coordinate the sample collection with collaborators, and assist with data analysis.
The second explores the effect of post-operative analgesia administration on behavioral studies that require the evaluation of brain tissue for neurochemical changes. In this study, we will evaluate the effect of administration of opioid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the neurochemical analysis of mice utilized on a two-bottle ethanol drinking study. The veterinary student will be expected to participate in the experimental design, assist with the surgical manipulation, provide peri-operative care, coordinate the sample collection with collaborators, and assist with data analysis.
Ling Jin, DVM, Ph.D. – Virology, and Christiane Löhr, Dr. med. vet., PhD, Diplomate ACVP – Anatomic Pathology
Ling.Jin@oregonstate.edu (541) 737-9893
Christiane.Loehr@oregonstate.edu (541) 737-6973
Leporid herpesvirus 4 (LHV-4) is newly identified alphaherpesvirus. This is the first characterized alphaherpesvirus in rabbits and belongs to Simplexvirus genus, which includes HSV-1, HSV-2 and BHV-2. One of the unique feature of alphaherpesviruses is they becomes latent in the sensory ganglion following a primary infection. Although many years effort have been spent to understand the alphaherpesvirus latency reactivation, we still don’t understand the mechanism. One of the major challenges is that we lack nature hosts to study this phenomenon. This rabbit alphaherpesvirus, latent infection and latency reactivation can be studied in its natural host, the rabbit.
The origin of LHAV-4 has not been investigated. To prevent viral infections in domestic rabbit, it is important to identify its natural hosts. Feral rabbits and wild hares were reported to be present in the farm when the fatal infections occurred. It is possible that LHV-4 comes from those wild animals and was transmitted to those domestic rabbit.
Michael L. Kent, PhD, Director, Center for Fish Disease Research Professor, Departments Microbiology, Fisheries & Wildlife,
Michael.Kent@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-8652
Haemonchus contortus is the most important nematode parasite of sheep, and is prevalent in Oregon. We are looking to establish a test for separating Haemonchus eggs from other stronglye eggs to be used as a routine test in the VDL. A test was developed by Dr. D.G. Palmer and is used by the Dept. Ag. in West Australia, but has not been used in the U.S. (See Palmer and McCombe. 1996. Intl. J. Parasitol. 26: 447-430).
Investigations on vertical transmission and development of a non-lethal test of Pseudoloma neurophilia in zebrafish. This microspordium is very common in zebrafish in research facilities (see http://zebrafish.org/zirc/health/diseaseManual.php).
We have an ongoing study investigating the impacts of numerous parasites that are very prevalent and abundant in wild coho salmon in Oregon, including metacercariae of several digenean trematodes, capillarid nematodes, and myxozoans. This project would entail working with our PhD student, Jayde Ferguson, and would include field collections in Oregon streams, collecting and tagging fish, collecting parasites from infected fish, preparing parasites for identification (including feeding chicks to obtain adult worms), and working with Dr. Kent on identifying these parasites.
Michelle Anne Kutzler, DVM, PhD - Theriogenology
Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists
michelle.kutzler@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6952
I have an easy and fun summer research project for a student to validate a canine LH assay for use in camelids. The student would master venipuncture techniques in unshorn llamas and alpacas and run samples on an in house ELISA kit as well as become an expert in camelid reproductive endocrinology. The student will be working with breeders in SW Washington and Oregon and transportation costs will be budgeted in to the cost of the project.
John Mata, PhD
John.Mata@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-6874
Dr. Mata's research projects include several projects related to veterinary medicine. These research efforts include testing of hemmorhage control devices in swine. These chitosan based patches are being developed for human and veterinary medical applications. The second area of investigation is the development and testing of a derivative of chlorophyll, gadolinium chlorophyllin, that we are interested in testing as a cancer therapy.
Erica McKenzie BSc, BVMS, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM (Large Animal Internal Medicine)
erica.mckenzie@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737 4809
Research interests include equine and canine exercise physiology, specifically relating to energy metabolism, immunological processes and disease in racing Alaskan sled dogs; and energy metabolism in treadmill exercised horses. Additionally an interest in the pharmacological management of medical problems in camelids.
Aurora Villarroel, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM – Rural Veterinary Practice:
aurora.villarroel@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-5853
I am interested in epidemiology and production medicine, especially herd record management (software, SOP’s, etc.). Most of my work is with dairy cattle, but will consider projects with beef cattle and small ruminants. Potential research projects should focus on effects of management practices on production and/or reproduction. Management practices could vary from administration of specific drugs to personnel education and training, and anything in between.
I also have currently some projects working on teaching methods for veterinary students to improve learning, graduate retention in rural veterinary practice and public health. Most of these are done via survey. If you are thinking about a project in this line, I will be glad to consider helping you out.