Annual Highlights

2006 Highlights

Disease Testing, Diagnostic, and Prevention Programs

Johne’s Disease Testing – Researchers at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory developed a new test for the diagnosis of Johne’s, a disease that causes infected herds a $200 per cow loss each year. The test detects antibodies in milk against the organism that causes Johne’s disease and is navailable to Minnesota dairy producers. 

PRRS Vaccine– MJ Biologics launched a new technology for producing a Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome vaccine. This technology, invented by professor Dr. HanSoo Joo, is exclusively licensed from the University of Minnesota. 

Disease Testing – The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory continued surveillance of chronic wasting disease through collection of white-tailed deer and increased bovine tuberculosis and avian influenza detection efforts. The laboratory conducted 1,475,523 tests last year.

Research Programs

Collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health – The Clinical Investigation Center entered into a scientific collaboration with Pfizer which will support clinical trials at the Veterinary Medical Center.

Equine Consortium for Genetic Research –Morris Animal Foundation funded a $2.5 million Program in Equine Medical Genetics. The consortium (led by Jim Mickelson and Stephanie Valberg) brings together the world’s best researchers in a focused, collaborative effort to improve equine health.

Points of Pride Research Days – Graduate students, faculty, alumni, and community partners were honored for their research accomplishments. The Distinguished Research Alumni Award went to Dr. Gary Boorman (D.V.M. 1967) and the Distinguished Research Partner Award went to Geneticporc. Over 44 posters were presented by graduate students.

Avian Metapneumovirus - Drs. Kakambi Nagaraja and Dave Halvorson discovered that Avian Metapneumovirus, a disease of the respiratory system, may be zoonnotic (meaning it can pass between humans and animals).

Student Programs

Graduation – Eighty-two students received their D.V.M. degrees, five students were awarded with Ph.D. degrees, two with master’s degrees, one with a D.V.M./M.P.H degree, and three with swine certificates.

Awards Banquet – Sixty-one scholarship programs awarded 141 scholarships and awards to veterinary students in the amount of $130,000.

Orientation – The class of 2009 participated in a newly developed Minnesota Leadership Experience, a three day orientation designed to build relationships and help prepare students for veterinary school.

Financial Support - Benefactors contributed a total of $3.5 million in gifts and commitments including $1.1 million to the Equine Center and $681,089 to support The Raptor Center. Other gifts were made to establish or support endowed scholarships, significantly increasing the dollars student beneficiaries receive to decrease their debt load.

Major Programmatic Initiatives

EquineCenter – Ground was broke for a new $11 million Equine Center with completion of this state-of-the-art facility expected in fall 2007. The Equine Center will bring together diverse disciplines within the university and experts from industry to foster a culture of innovation and high performance.

The Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center – Renovation began on the historic dairy barn which is scheduled to open in March 2007. The building was named in honor of Dr. Ben Pomeroy, a pioneer in veterinary medicine.

Awards

Pfizer Research Excellence Award – Dr. Mitchell Abrahamsen, a professor in the Veterinary and Biomedical Science department, received the Pfizer Research Excellence Award for his genomic work in Cryptosporidium parvum, a parasitic pathogen that infects the digestive tracts of humans and animals.

Norden Teaching Award – Dr. Leslie Sharkey, associate professor in the Veterinary Population Medicine department, received the Norden Teaching Award, the most prestigious national faculty award.

Mark of Excellence – Dr. David Polzin, professor in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department, received the Mark of Excellence award, given to a faculty member who generated and shared new knowledge with the veterinary community.

Community Service

Emergency Preparedness - The Center for Animal Health and Food Safety collaborated with MN Department of Agriculture, MN Board of Animal Health, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Minnesota’s poultry and egg industries to develop emergency preparedness plans for avian influenza and other potentially catastrophic animal diseases.

Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSADE) - The Center for Animal Health and Food Safety provided leadership in the formation of SSAFE, a public-private partnership created to protect a safe global food supply.

Equine Dental Education Program – The college introduced the Minnesota Equine Dental Symposia, a series of continuing education programs for veterinarians in partnership with American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry.

Nestle Purina Memories Garden – A brick installation ceremony was held in memory and honor of companion animals, with special tribute to Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, honoring their contributions to deaf and disabled Minnesotans.

Miracle of Birth Center - The Miracle of Birth at the Minnesota State Fair relocated to a new facility that incorporates state-of-the art practices used by food producers. U of M professor emeritus John Anderson was consulted in the design of the facility due to his work in developing housing systems for dairy cattle.

For more updates, go to www.cvm.umn.edu. For a copy of the college’s annual report, send an email to cvmpr@umn.edu.