November 19, 2012

Four members of the MSU CVM Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (LCS) have been awarded grants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Fellowships Grant Program. NIFA Fellowship grants support the research of doctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees to develop the next generation of scientists who will lead agriculture into the future by solving current and future challenges facing our society.

Sarah Mattmiller, Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology (CMIB) doctoral candidate in Meadow Brook Chair Dr. Lorraine Sordillo’s laboratory, conducts research on the impact of selenium nutrition on the pathogenesis of inflammatory-based diseases. Mattmiller’s proposal was among those receiving the highest overall scores in the food safety, nutrition, and health priority area. Will Raphael, LCS doctoral candidate mentored by Dr. Sordillo, investigates the impact of intense lipid mobilization on immune functions in transition dairy cattle. Jonathan Roussey, CMIB doctoral candidate mentored by Paul Coussens, conducts research on regulatory T cells and immunity to paratuberculosis in cattle.

Ed Kabara, postdoctoral research associate co-mentored by Andres Contreras and Lorraine Sordillo, conducts research on the role of adipose tissue on metabolic and inflammatory responses in dairy cattle.

In addition, Maciej Parys, co-mentored by Dr. Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan and John Kruger, was awarded a post-DVM fellowship from the Morris Animal Foundation for a translational project focusing on evaluation of mesencymal stem cells as a treatment modality in feline idiopathic cystitis.

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a world-renowned, accredited institute of veterinary education. The College continuously provides diverse academic opportunities to cultivate great scholars and better people. Advancing the art and science of veterinary medicine every day, MSU CVM is aided by research and is available to the public for the advancement of human and animal health. With more than 100 years of teaching excellence, CVM continues to prepare leaders, life-savers, and world changers to meet the challenges of Michigan, the nation, and the world.