Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      1  

Biomedical  &  Veterinary  Medicine  Quarterly  Digest  

Introducing  the  first  newsletter  for  the  Vet  Med  GSA  programs!  Striving  to  keep  everyone  informed  and  involved    

During   a   recent   Virginia-­‐Maryland   College   of   Veterinary   Medicine  Graduate  Student  Assembly  (Vet  Med  GSA)  meeting  it  was  suggested  to  start  issuing  a  quarterly  newsletter  that  focuses  on  the  research  side  of  the  veterinary  college.    This  includes  the  graduate  students  involved  in   the   Masters   of   Public   Health   program   and   Ph.D.   or   master’s  programs  in  Biomedical  and  Veterinary  Sciences  as  well  as  the  research  faculty  and  staff.      

The   aim   for   the   newsletter   is   to   improve   distribution   of   information  within   and   between   the   programs   and   everyone   involved   in   them.    Additionally,  we  would  like  to  be  able  to  include  the  newsletters  on  the  website   to   give   potential   students   and   faculty   members   better  visualization  of  the  work  and  accomplishments  within  our  programs  at  veterinary  college.      

First  Edition  Winter  2016  

UPCOMING  EVENTS  

March  2  –  RIP  Seminar:  Danielle  Yugo  5  –  Casino  Night  6  –  Guest  Seminar:  One  Health,  Dogs,                      Disease  and  Ticks  (Susan  Little)  9  –  RIP  Seminar:  Miranda  Vieson  14  –  Town  Hall  Meeting  17  –  VMCVM  Research  Symposium  23  –  RIP  Seminar:  Narges  Dorratoltaj  23  –  GSA  Research  Symposium  30  –  RIP  Seminar:  Maria  Cristina                        Villafranca    

April  6  –  RIP  Seminar:  Kris  Eden  9  –  Big  Event  13  –  RIP  Seminar:  Angela  Ives  16  –  3.2K  for  32  Day  of  Remembrance  16  –  Spring  Wine  Social  20  –  RIP  Seminar:  Narre  Ketusing  

In  this  issue:  

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CAREER  DEVELOPMENT  SERIES  A  new  seminar  series  designed  to  prepare  graduate  and  post-­‐docs  for  future  career  opportunities    THRIVING  IN  GRADUATE  SCHOOL  A  blog  post  by  Karen  P.  DePauw,  Dean  of  the  Virginia  Tech  Graduate  School    VET  MED  GRADUATE  STUDENTS  AT  ANNUAL  VCOM  RESEARCH  DAY  Three  awards  received  by  Vet  Med  GSA  graduate  students    A  GLIMPSE  INTO  BIOMEDICAL  AND  VETERINARY  SCIENCES  Graduate  students  talk  science  and  research  at  Kid’s  Tech  University  

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      2  

Career  and  Professional  Development  

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New  Professional  &  Career  Development  Series  Offered  Co-­‐sponsored  by  Stamps  Family  Charitable  Foundation,  Vet  Med  GSA,  and  Regenerative  Medicine  IGEP    The  Professional/Career  Development  Seminar  Series  and  Workshop  began  this  semester  on  Jan.  29  with  a  seminar  on  CVs,  Resumes,  and  Cover  Letters  presented  by  Claire  Childress  from  Virginia  Tech  Career  Services.    She  provided  examples  of  CVs  and  resumes  and  answered  questions   from   the   students   regarding   format,   content,   and   the  etiquette  of  communication  with  potential  employers  before,  during,  and  after  the  application  process.        A   second   session   was   recently   held   on   Feb.   19   and   featured   Stuart  Mease   from   Virginia   Tech’s   Pamplin   School   of   Business   discussing  contract   negotiations.     The   hottest   topics   of   discussion   were  negotiating  salary  and  creating  a  ranking  system  of  priorities,  values,  and   benefits   that   students   would   like   in   their   first   job   after  graduation.     Negotiating   between   multiple   job   offers   was   also  discussed.      Future   sessions   will   be   held   in   VMIA   220   at   9   a.m.   every   Friday  (excluding   weeks   of   spring   break   for   both   the   university   and   the  veterinary  college)  for  the  remainder  of  the  semester.        Session   recordings,   resources,   schedule,   announcements,   and   other  

Fall  BMVS  Wine  Social  Raises  Donations  for  Micah’s  Backpack  Graduate   students   and   faculty  enjoyed   the   fall  wine   social   held  at  the  University  Club  on  Oct.  17,  2015,  hosted  by  the  Vet  Med  GSA.  As  part  of   the   wine   social,   non-­‐perishable  food   items   are   collected   and  proceeds   from   admission   are  donated   to   Micah’s   Backpack.    Following   the   fall   wine   social,   the  Vet   Med   GSA   was   able   to   donate  209   food   items,   helping   268   local  children   during   the   Thanksgiving  holiday.     Additionally   $475   was  donated  for  the  Christmas  holiday.                            

Micah’s   Backpack   is   a   local   charity  organization   that   provides   direct  food  assistance   for  children  of   low-­‐income  families.    More   information  about  the  organization  can  be    found  online  at:  

www.micahsbackpack.org  

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      3  

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helpful  information  related  to  the  series  can  be  found  on  the  Scholar  site  at:  

https://scholar.vt.edu/portal/site/biomedprof    

  Requests   to   join   the   scholar   site,   questions,   and   comments   can   be  addressed   to   the   series   organizer,   Miranda   Vieson  (mvieson@vt.edu).        The  tentative  schedule  for  the  rest  of  the  series:  Feb.  26  -­‐  "Mingle  Like  You  Mean  It"    March  4  -­‐  Communicating  Science  Initiative  March  25  -­‐  Financial  Planning    April  8  -­‐  Preparing  for  Graduation    April  15  -­‐  Community  amongst  researchers,  clinicians,  and  students  by  Dean  Clarke  April  29  -­‐  Robyn  Cardwell  to  speak  about  her  career  track  and  experiences  (Industry)    Pending  sessions:  April  1  -­‐  NIH  grants  discussion  panel  April  21  (Thursday)  -­‐  Post-­‐doc  discussion  panel  

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The   Annual   Graduate   Research   Symposium   is  coming   up   on   March   17!     Students   will   be  presenting   their   current   research   through  poster   or   oral   presentations   throughout   the  day.     Research   topics   range   from   veterinary  clinical   sciences,   population   health   sciences,  

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immune   and   inflammatory   diseases,  bacteriology,   virology,   parasitology,  regenerative  medicine,  and  more.    The  day  also  features   keynote   speaker   Sandra   Armstrong  from  the  University  of  Minnesota.    

27th  Annual  Graduate  Research  Symposium  Thursday,  March  17,  2016  

April  9,  2016  The   Big   Event   at   Virginia   Tech   is   a  student-­‐run   community   service   effort.  Every   spring,   thousands   of   students,  faculty,   and   staff   come   together   to  complete   nearly   one   thousand  community  service  projects  throughout  Blacksburg,   Christiansburg   and   the  New  River  Valley.      

SIGN  UP  AND  VOLUNTEER  with   the  Vet  Med  GSA!!!  Registration:  https://registration.vtbigevent.org/signup/index/joingroup/code/E7875-­‐00079    

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      4  

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Thriving  in  Graduate  School  A  blog  post  by  Karen  P.  DePauw,  Dean  of  the  Virginia  Tech  Graduate  School    

Graduate   school   should   be  challenging  but  doesn’t  need  to  be  overly  stressful.  Stress  can  come  in  many   forms.   Many   graduate  students   will   likely   say   that   they  experience   stress   in   graduate  school  and  that’s  just  part  of  being  a   graduate   student.  As  a  graduate  dean,   I   hear   this   frequently   and  understand  but  it  is  time  to  change  the   paradigm   from   surviving   to  thriving.    

A   quick   “google”   search   easily  reveals   a   number   of   blogs,   books  and   articles   on   tips   for   surviving  even   thriving   in   graduate   school.  One   example   is   the   blog   entitled  Graduate   Student   Way   and   a  recent  post  with  advice  from  three  PhD   students.   It   is   worth   a   quick  read  to  understand  that  one   is  not  alone  and  the  feelings  are  common  

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among   graduate   students.   It   also  points   out   that   warning   signs   of  stress   should   not   be   ignored   but  understood  and  addressed.    

Other   examples   include   an   article  on   12   tips   for   surviving   and  surviving   in   grad   school,   a   self-­‐published   book   by   David   Nguyen  which   offers   some   basic   tips   for  surviving   graduate   school   and   an  archived   site   from   University   of  Oregon  called  Survive  Grad  School  that   contains   some   valuable  information.   Many   Graduate  Schools   today   offer   resources   and  guidance   for   graduate   student  success   on   their   websites,   at  orientations   and   workshops   and  through   social   media   (e.g.,   UNL,  UBC,  GMU).    

Lots   of   good   advice   and   tips   are  available   but   I   wish   to   encourage  actions   of   a  more   personal   nature  that   are   often   de-­‐   emphasized  during  graduate  education.  Here,   I  pull   from   the   advice   offered   by  University  of  California  at  Berkeley  (UCB)   regarding   stress   and

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graduate  school.  Please  read  and  consider   the   four   primary   points  that   are   encouraged:   make  yourself  a  priority,  take  control  of  your   life,   avoid   procrastination  through   time   management,   and  look   for   social   support.   These  tend   to   go   counter   to   the  perceived   “survival”   nature  required   for  graduate   school   and  the  toughness  and  persistence  at  all   costs   needed   for   success.  Rather,   I  would  argue  that  taking  time   for   oneself   is   critical.  Although  a  graduate  student  can  sometimes   feel   as   if   one   doesn’t  have   control,   it   is   important   to  exercise  one’s  agency  and  control  over   one’s   life.   Further   it   is  important   to   learn   to   say   “no”  and   to   establish   some   balance  between   graduate   study   and  personal   life.   Of   course,   time  management   is   crucial   to  academic   progress   and   when  there’s   lots   of   work   to   do   and  deadlines,   managing   one’s   time  becomes   even   more   important.  As  is  a  key  component  of  the  VT

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      5  

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(Dean DePauw Blog Continued) Graduate   School’s   experience,   establishing   a   community  (communities)  and  social  networks  for  support  are  critical.  These  are  essential  within  the  academic  setting  as  well  as  beyond  the  university  setting.    

In  my  welcome  remarks  to  incoming  graduate  students,   I  share  four  conditions   for   graduate   study:   academic   quality,   time   to   fiddle,   a  baggy   idea   of   truth,   and   a   sense   of   community.   I   encourage   the  graduate   students   to   reflect   upon   these   throughout   their   graduate  study  and  to  realize  that  failure  is  a  part  of  the  learning  process.  I  also  encourage   them   to   work   hard   and   to   play   as   well.   To   thrive   in  graduate  school  is  to  enjoy  the  challenge  and  to  pursue  opportunities  as  they  present  themselves.    

One  additional   thought.  Keep  a  sense  of  humor  because   it  helps   to  keep   one   grounded   and   attentive   to   the   richness   of   the   graduate  experience.  Visit  PhD  comics.   -­‐  Dr.  Karen  P.  DePauw,  Vice  President  and  Dean  of  Graduate  Education  

Graduate  Research  Symposium  Keynote  Speaker  Sandra  K.  Armstrong  

The   keynote   speaker   for   the   24th  Annual   Graduate   Research  Symposium   is   Sandra   K.   Armstrong,  professor   of   microbiology,   from   the  University   of   Minnesota.     Her  research   is   focused   on   pathogenic  Gram-­‐negative   bacteria   that   are  commonly   implicated   in   respiratory  infections   of   humans   and   other  mammalian  species.    Specifically,  she  focuses   on   Bordatella   spp.   like   B.  pertussis   (whooping   cough),   B.  parapertussis,   and   B.   bronchiseptica.    Armstrong  strives  to  understand  iron  acquisition   systems   in   the   bacteria  during   the   course   of   infection.    According   to   her   faculty   bio   page,  “Nearly   all   organisms   require  nutritive   iron   and   its   assimilation   is  essential   for   invading   pathogenic  bacteria   to   establish   infection   in   the  iron-­‐limiting   environment   of   the  host.”      This   year’s   symposium   is   being   held  on   Thursday,   March   17   at   the  Virginia-­‐Maryland   College   of  Veterinary   Medicine   and   features   all  the  current  biomedical  and  veterinary  science   research   occurring   in   the  college.  

Vet  Med  Graduate  Students  at  Annual  VCOM  Research  Day  An  important  aspect  of  the  One  Health  Initiative  is  sharing  information  between  various  disciplines  in  both  human  and  animal  health  to  promote  a  deeper  understanding  of  disease.  

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Edward   Via   College   of  Osteopathic   Medicine   (VCOM)  held   it’s   annual   Research  Recognition   Day   on   Friday,   Feb.  26.     As   part   of   the   One   Health  initiative   and   to   promote  collaboration,   the   college   invites  

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      6  

Think  carefully  about  your  primary  research  question,  learn  and  utilize  the  latest  research  techniques,  develop  a  team  approach  to  research,  find  collaboration  to  broaden  your  reach,  attend  professional  research  meetings  at  least  yearly,  and  seek  out  opportunities  to  serve  on  NIH  study  sections  or  other  review  bodies    

-­‐  Advice  to  investigators  from  Justin  McCormick  

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researchers   from   partnering   residency  programs,   the   Virginia   Tech   Carilion  Research   Institute   (VTCRI),   graduate  programs   at   Virginia   Tech,   and   Virginia-­‐Maryland  College  of  Veterinary  Medicine    to  present  posters.        

Guest   speakers   included   Justin  McCormick   from   Michigan   State  University’s   College   of   Osteopathic  Medicine   presenting   success   stories   in  research.   Gary   Simonds   from   the  Neurosurgery   Department   at   Carilion  Clinic  and  his  current  residents  also  spoke  about   conducting   research   during  residency   training,   and   Stephanie  Townsell   spoke   about   exciting   new  updates  and  offerings  from  the  American  Osteopathic  Association.      

The   day   concluded   with   distribution   of  awards   for   poster   presentations,   3   of  which   were   awarded   to   veterinary  college’s  graduate  students:  Miranda  Vieson  –  1st  place  in  clinical  research  Giulio  Menciotti  –  2nd  place  in  clinical  research  Alexander  Kwiatkowski  –  2nd  place   in  biomedical  research    Terry  Hrubec  also   received   an  award   for  her   outstanding   research  on   quarternary  ammonium  compounds.  

Representation   from   the   VMCVM   this   year   included:   Dylan   McDaniel  (Allen   lab),   Adrian   Castaneda   (Reilly   lab),   Alexander   Kwiatkowski   (He  Lab),  Qizhi  Qin  (Dervisis  Lab),  Miranda  Vieson  (Luo  lab),  Giulio  Menciotti  (Borgarelli   lab),   Nicholas   Parkinson   (Equine   Medicine),   Amy  Santonastaso   (Equine   Medicine)   and   Virginia   Corrigan   (Small   Animal  Community  Practice).  

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      7  

A  Glimpse  into  Biomedical  and  Veterinary  Sciences  Kids’  Tech  University  is  a  program  at  Virginia  Tech  with  one  primary  goal:  creating  the  future  workforce  in  science,  technology,  engineering,  and  mathematics  (STEM)  by  sparking  kids’  interest  in  these  fields.    Graduate   students   from   the   veterinary   college   provided   interactive  experiences  and  information  to  kids  aged  9-­‐12  to  showcase  research  in   biomedical   and   veterinary   sciences.     The   booth   featured   culture  plates   containing   bacteria   grown   from   the   hands   before   and   after  handwashing,   mouth,   ear,   and   objects   commonly   handled  throughout   the   day   (cell   phone,   money,   etc).     Kids   were   able   to  examine   a   microscopic   sample   of   a   horse   lung   infected   with  pneumonia   and   see   the   differences   compared   to   normal   lung  histology.     The   booth   also   showed   parasitology   samples  (roundworms   from   a   horse,   tapeworms   from   a   dog,   and  Cuterebra  spp.  larvae)  and  examples  of  species  variation  in  veterinary  medicine  (limbs  from  a  horse,  cow,  emu,  and  canine).    

RECENT  PUBLICATIONS  

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• D.  Khan  and  S.  Ansar  Ahmed.  “The  Immune  System  Is  a  Natural  Target  for  Estrogen  Action:  Opposing  Effects  of  Estrogen  in  Two  Prototypical  Autoimmune  Diseases.”  Frontiers  in  Immunology.  Jan  6;6:635.  doi:  10.3389/fimmu.2015.00635.  eCollection  2015.  Review.  

• D.  Khan  and  S.  Ansar  Ahmed.  “Regulation  of  IL-­‐17  in  autoimmune  diseases  by  transcriptional  factors  and  microRNAs.”  Frontiers  in  Genetics.  2015  Jul  14;6:236.  doi:  10.3389/fgene.2015.00236.  eCollection  2015.  Review.  

• Britt  Carr,  S.O.  Canapp,  D.R.  Mason,  C.  Cox,  T.  Hess.  “Canine  platelet-­‐rich  plasma  systems:  a  prospective  analysis”  Frontiers  in  Veterinary  Science.  2016;2(73):doi:  10.3389/fvets.2015.00073.  

• Britt  Carr,  D.D.  Dycus.  “Canine  orthopedic  devices.”  Today’s  Veterinary  Practice.  2016;  6(1):117-­‐125.  • Britt  Carr,  S.O.  Canapp,  M.C.  Zink.  “Quantitative  comparison  of  the  walk  and  trot  of  border  collies  and  labrador  retrievers,  breeds  

with  different  performance  requirements.”  PLoS  One.  2015;10(12):e0145396.  doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0145396.  • E.F.  Perkowski,  J.R.  McCann,  J.T.  Sullivan,  S.  Malik,  Irving  Coy  Allen,  V.  Godfrey,  J.D.  Hayden,  M.  Braunstein.  “An  orphaned  Mce-­‐

Winter  2016  –  Quarterly  Digest      8  

 

PROGRAM  DEPARTMENT  

Vet  Med  GSA  CONTACTS  

BIOMEDICAL  AND  VETERINARY  SCIENCES    

RESEARCH  AND  GRADUATE  OFFICE  205  Duck  Pond  Drive,  Virginia  Tech  

Blacksburg,  VA    24061  1-­‐540-­‐231-­‐4992  

WEBSITE:  https://www.vetmed.vt.edu/academic/bmvs/  

SENIOR  ASSOCIATE  DEAN  OF  BMVS                                        -­‐  Roger  J.  Avery  ADMINISTRATIVE  COORDINATOR  

                                 -­‐  Cyndi  G.  Booth  GRADUATE  STUDENT  COORDINATOR  

                                 -­‐  Becky  Jones    GRADUATE  STUDENT  ASSOCIATION  OF  

VMCVM  PRESIDENT            -­‐  Grant  Waldrop  VICE  PRESIDENT            -­‐  Brianna  Petruzzi  TREASURER            -­‐  James  Budnik  SECRETARY            -­‐  Angela  Ives  EVENT  COORD            -­‐  Nicholas  Catanzaro  CAMPUS  GSA  REPS            -­‐  Brianna  Petruzzi                -­‐  Kelly  Freudenberger  GAC  REPS              -­‐  Miranda  Vieson                -­‐  Thomas  Brickler  

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associated  protein  of  Mycobacterium  tuberculosis  is  a  virulence  factor  that  stabilizes  Mce  transporters.”  Molecular  Microbiology.  PMID:  26712165.  IF:  5.026.  (12/03/15;  In  Press).  

• Nicole  Weinstein,  Katie  Boes,  E.  Mauldin,  and  John  Rossmeisl.  “What  is  your  diagnosis?  Middle  ear  material  from  a  dog.”  Veterinary  Clinical  Pathology.  2016.  

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