The Linda F. Hayward Florida Veterinary Scholars Program (for DVM students)
Summer 2023

The Linda F. Hayward Florida Veterinary Scholars Program (previously the Florida Veterinary Scholars Program) provides an opportunity for veterinary students to engage in hypothesis-driven research over a 10-12 week period. For UF students, this happens between the 1st and 2nd years.  The mission is to expose veterinary students to career opportunities in biomedical research.  This may include Industry (drug development, testing, marketing), Government (CDC, NIH, USDA) and Academia-based paths.

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Apply now for the 2024 symposium! See links and due dates below.

Program Dates: May 27 – August 2, 2024
National Symposium: August 8-10, 2024

This year’s faculty mentors and their research interests:

• Chris Vulpe
  Keywords: heat stress, kidney, histopathology, biomarkers
  Project: Rodent Model of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology
• Elizabeth Maxwell
  Project: Detecting and quantifying kratom metabolites in urine of 8 research beagles
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• Cleverson De Souza
  Keywords: Intelligent AI tutoring systems, AI-assisted instruction, Automated teaching assistants, AI learning companions
• Julie Moore
  Keywords: pregnancy, placenta, oxidative stress, mouse model
  Project: Visualization of uteroplacental circulation in the pregnant mouse for studies of oxidative stress
• Helena Zomer
  Keywords: Regenerative medicine, stem cells, skin wound healing, aging
• Francesca Griffin
  Keywords: urine, cats, cystocentesis, wellness
  Project: Analysis and Culture Results of Spontaneously Voided Urine Samples in Cats: An Observational Study
• Adesola Odunayo
  Keywords: primary care, dogs, cats, restraint during emergency
  Project: Evaluation of Restraint System Utilized for Transportation of Dogs and Cats to a Veterinary Facility
• Amara Estrada
  Keywords: iPSCs, uroepithelial cells, gene therapy, cats
  Project: In vitro modeling of cardiac diseases
• Amara Estrada, Chris Vulpe, Chris Martyniuk
  Keywords: feline, heart, gene therapy, Alstrom syndrome protein 1
• Brian DiGangi
  Keywords: veterinary telemedicine, access to veterinary care, spectrum of care, canine
  Proposed project: pending
• Chris Martyniuk, Chris Vulpe, Amara Estrada
  Keywords: gene editing, CRISPR, canine, dilated cardiomyopathy
  Project: Gene editing in canine cells: Therapeutic interventions for cardiomyopathies
• Adam Stern
  Keywords: forensic entomotoxicology, drugs, decomposition, maggots
  Proposed project: Veterinary Forensic Entomotoxicology: Detection of Pentobarbital in Decomposed Remains
• Rob Ossiboff
  Keywords: reptile/amphibian disease, virology, molecular diagnostics, wildlife disease
  Proposed project: pending
• Lawrence Fatica
  Keywords: comparative anatomy, computed tomography, 3D modeling, education
  Proposed project: pending

More projects coming!

2024 Program Director:

• Chris Martyniuk, PhD (Physiological Sciences): Director

2023 FVSP Board Members:

• Apichai Tuanyok, PhD (Infectious Diseases and Immunology)
• Heather Walden, PhD (Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine)
• Domenico Santoro, DVM (Small Animal Clinical Sciences)
• Ramiro Isaza, DVM (Large Animal Clinical Sciences)

With thanks to our sponsors:

• Boehringer Ingelheim
• Morris Animal Foundation
• Florida Veterinary Medical Association

2022 Highlights