Unveiling the Future of Veterinary Medicine: How These Students are Revolutionizing Research!

Veterinary research took center stage at the annual Veterinary Scholars Symposium held in early August in St. Paul, Minnesota. Nearly 600 veterinary students gathered to share original research they conducted in academic and government labs over the summer, engage with peers and leaders in academia, government, and industry, and explore potential career paths. The symposium is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. and organized by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.

This year, Boehringer celebrated 35 years of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, established in 1989 to introduce veterinary students to biomedical research. The program provides students with hands-on research experience typically conducted over a 10-12-week period during the summer, culminating in the presentation of their work at the symposium. In 2024, Boehringer supported 129 students from veterinary schools in North America, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Japan, and the Philippines. This summer also marked the third year of a collaboration between Boehringer and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), with eleven students working directly with ARS scientists to research diseases affecting livestock and public health.

“Over the past 35 years, veterinary medicine has evolved, but the mission of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program remains unchanged: supporting veterinary students in exploring biomedical research and bolstering the future professional pipeline,” said Monica Figueiredo, DVM, director of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. “Many students who have participated in this program have gone on to pursue research interests. We know today’s students play a vital role in the future discovery and development of new vaccines and pharmaceuticals for both veterinary and human health. Boehringer takes pride in the Veterinary Scholars Program's history and looks forward to its continued growth.”

At the symposium, Boehringer also recognized two students with its annual research awards.

Kayleigh Shumaker, a veterinary student at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students. Shumaker’s research investigated altered angiogenesis as a potential mechanism behind impaired fracture healing in Down syndrome mice.

Richard Ayomide Adeleke, DVM, received the Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians. Adeleke, a PhD candidate in immunology and infectious diseases at Cornell University, focused his research on developing a single combined vaccine for SARS‑CoV‑2 and the influenza virus, aiming to simplify the current immunization schedule and increase global vaccine accessibility.

“The field of research is about exploration, and the exemplary research presented by this year’s Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award recipients reflects their commitment to better understanding the interconnectedness between human and animal health,” said Dr. Figueiredo.

For more information on the Boehringer Ingelheim Research Awards, applications for the 2025 awards are due by December 30, 2024. Click here to apply: https://veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com/ResearchSpotlight