Short-term biomedical research training program for veterinary students

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ABSTRACT Veterinary scientists are trained to be key contributors to One Health and are ideally situated to deliver services in biomedicine, zoonotic diseases, agricultural systems, ecosystems health, and spontaneous models of human disease. Exposure of DVM students to diverse research programs is a critical first step in promoting their development in the scientific method. This training program is designed to build on the established and successful DVM Summer Research Program that has a >20-year record of recruiting and comprehensively immersing veterinary medical students in summer research experiences on the MSU campus. These research experiences focus on three major areas that align with the NIH mission: (1) Microbial ecology and evolution; microbial pathogenesis, microbial population structure and functioning in health and disease, Microbe-host- environment interface biology; (2) Comparative medicine (oncology, inflammation, cardiology, theriogenology, genetics, ophthalmology, orthopedics); and (3) Systems approach to population level investigations. The DVM summer research program at CVM includes a carefully planned delivery of modules required to prepare participating students for further training in the biomedical research. Our program promotes diversity in composition and content and has provided an in-road to the successful development of an R25 to enhance underrepresented minority recruitment into DVM classes. We have successfully recruited 50 students from underrepresented groups over the last 10 years, with 31 of them being appointed as T35 fellows and 19 in the R25 BRUSH program. Thus, the primary objective of this T35 education research program is to increase the number of veterinary students from diverse groups who pursue biomedical research-related educational goals and career paths relevant to the core mission areas of the NIH. Toward this end, the program is designed to - 1) provide summer scholars a research experience and an overview of career opportunities in academia, government, and biomedical industry, 2) cultivate a science identity through mentor and peer networks, and 3) provide a positive reinforced framework to help foster confidence required to pursue a career in science.