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Principal Investigator: Robert F. Gilmour, Jr.
Contact Information: Email: rfg2@cornell.edu - Phone: 607-253-3856
Sponsor: Merck and Co., Inc.
Grant Number:
Title: Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholars Research Program-Veterinary Investigator Program
Annual Direct Cost: $15,000
Project Period: 05/01/08-04/30/09
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In an effort to confront the current and projected shortage of veterinarians who elect to pursue careers in academic medicine, industry and government, the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Cornell University has recently implemented admissions policies that are designed to attract an increased number of applicants who are interested in research. Given that these new policies have been very effective in attracting such students, we have developed a program that provides veterinary students with an initial research opportunity at the CVM. The intent of this program, the Veterinary Investigator Program, has been to complement and extend existing programs at the CVM that are not, for various reasons, able to accommodate the additional (and welcome) influx of new students interested in pursuing a career in research. Specifically, the Cornell Veterinary Investigator Program will provide a twelve-week summer experience that allows each participant to develop research skills, an appreciation for the value of biomedical research in veterinary medicine and a desire to pursue a career that involves biomedical research.
In addition to these objectives, the Cornell Veterinary Investigator Program seeks to develop a cohort of veterinary students who will serve as role models for other veterinary students interested in research. After completion of the Program, participants will be able to apply research principles to the DVM curriculum, further challenging themselves and other students. It is expected that this Program will serve as a foundation for a cultural shift within the DVM curriculum, integrating research with a strong veterinary medicine curriculum and emphasizing the contributions that research can make to animal health and well being.
The initial two years of the Veterinary Investigator Program were very successful with respect to achieving the goals we set for the students and mentors. Given that success, the program was expanded in the past year to include students from colleges of veterinary medicine other than Cornell. In addition, we were fortunate to receive support from Merck-Merial for the program. Of the ten positions for which we are requesting support this year, two positions will be reserved for veterinary students from outside of Cornell.
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