As determined by several studies there are a critical national need for veterinarians in the biomedical research community. The long term objective of this NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant, Biomedical Research Experience for Veterinary Students (BREVS), continues to be the attraction of veterinarians to careers in biomedical research. There are two aims, first is a short term independent research project in an environment of discovery provided by an active laboratory and mentor. The program spans the natural life of a research project. It is designed to afford the student the opportunity to help plan the studies to be conducted, conduct a literature review, develop a research proposal, conduct the experiments, and present the data as it evolves and when the project is completed. While these projects are designed to be completed during the summer, local students have the opportunity to continue their work during elective blocks during the second, third and fourth years of the veterinary curriculum. Secondly, the program will provide students with significant, non-laboratory research relevant experiences in the form of lectures, discussions, field trips, and team building exercises. Topics for lectures and discussions will include experimental design and data analysis, research communication, literature searching and evaluation, the use of animals in research, ethics, animal welfare, and the responsible conduct of research. Specific lectures by local experts on gene therapy, transgenic animals, and translational medicine will continue to be organized. Field trips will expose the scholars to the research environments of a primate center, medical research institute, medical school campus, and biomedical research companies in a technology center. Together these events will begin to provide the scholars with an understanding the diversity and depth of research opportunities available to them when they graduate. With the renewal or this grant, the BREVS program will continue with 8 NIH scholars for 5 additional years of support. This is consistent with our success, the increased interest in the program, and our continuing efforts to attract additional students from other CVMs. The intent of the program is to immerse the professional students as a group and individually into an exciting, science based problem solving environment which has at its center an identifiable research project.

Public Health Relevance

Realizing a national need for veterinarians in the biomedical research community, this program immerses professional students as a group and individually into a research setting. Activities to educate students on the responsible conduct of research are combined with exploration of various research enterprises in order to attract veterinarians to careers in biomedical research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Type
NRSA Short -Term Research Training (T35)
Project #
5T35OD011151-15
Application #
9320995
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZOD1)
Program Officer
Watson, Harold L
Project Start
2003-05-01
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2017-08-01
Budget End
2019-07-31
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State University A&M Col Baton Rouge
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
075050765
City
Baton Rouge
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70803
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