National Symposium
The Veterinary Scholars Program 2016 Symposium
Veterinary Scholars Program Symposium Gives Students the Inside Track on Careers in Research
The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP) enables veterinary schools to introduce first and second year veterinary medical students to biomedical research. By providing a supportive environment in which students help conduct research in an established laboratory, complemented by seminars and discussion groups on careers in science, the participants gain insight into careers in biomedical research.
July 28-31, 2016
2016 Symposium Highlights
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A large proportion of program participants actually end up with a career in science. To me, that's a clear long-term benefit of this program.
FABIAN KAUSCHE, GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D, BI ANIMAL HEALTH.
| Past Symposia | |
| Year | Location |
| 2000 | University of Georgia |
| 2001 | University of Georgia |
| 2002 | Purdue University |
| 2003 | Kansas State University |
| 2004 | Auburn University |
| 2005 | University of Georgia |
| 2006 | Louisiana State University |
| 2007 | University of Pennsylvania and AAVMC at NIH |
| 2008 | Michigan State University |
| 2009 | North Carolina State University |
| 2010 | University of Georgia |
| 2011 | University of Florida |
| 2012 | Colorado State University |
| 2013 | Michigan State University |
| 2014 | Cornell University |
| 2015 | University of California - Davis |
| 2016 | The Ohio State University |
| Future Symposia | |
| 2017 | National Institutes of Health MSU |
| 2018 | Texas A&M |
| 2019 | Tufts University and MIT |
| 2020 | San Diego UCSD - AVMA |
| 2021 | Iowa State University |
| 2022 | University of Minnesota |
2016 Merial-NIH Veterinary Scholars Symposium Focuses on Transdisciplinary Approaches to Health and Wellness
The Merial-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium was held in Columbus, Ohio on July 28-31, hosted this year by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The 2016 Symposium provided opportunities for the 583 attendees from 38 schools of veterinary medicine to explore a number of research topics and to network with others starting or pursuing careers in biomedical research.
Topics including infectious diseases, translational oncology, and regenerative medicine were explored through keynote and featured presentations, breakout sessions, and poster sessions. Dr. Ab Osterhaus, DVM, PhD, from the University of Hannover, Germany, kicked off the scientific program with his keynote address, "Combatting Emerging Viruses: One Health Approach." This year's Symposium also featured a special breakout session on research career pathways.
More than 400 scientific posters were presented in four sessions by both veterinary students and young investigators, covering a wide range of research topics with potential to impact the health and well-being of animals and humans
During the Symposium Merial recognizes and awards one graduate student and one undergraduate student for their exemplary research. Read about the 2016 Merial Award Winners here.
In addition to supporting the Symposium, Merial has sponsored the associated Veterinary Scholars Research Program for the past 27 years. The program partners with veterinary schools to fund a 10-12 week hands-on summer research experience for first and second year veterinary students considering careers in biomedical research. The students then present their research results at the Symposium.
"A large percentage of MVSP participants end up with a career in science," said Fabian Kausche, Global Head of R&D, Merial. "To me, that's a clear long-term benefit of this program. Merial's priority is to provide solutions to help care for the well-being of animals, and this program furthers the advances in veterinary and human health research that make that possible."
The annual Symposium is funded primarily by Merial, the National Institutes of Health, and the host institution. In 2017, Merial will continue to co-sponsor the symposium with the National Institutes of Health at the NIH headquarters in Washington, D.C.