Field Trips
The Summer Research experience is enhanced by 2-3 field trips to
other research institutions, where students meet other scientists
and witness other aspects of veterinary and biomedical
research.
Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and
Research, MD Anderson Science Park (Bastrop,
TX). Students observe aspects of laboratory animal care
(primates) and learn about auxiliary service roles for
veterinarians in biomedical research, for example, as veterinary
pathologists and laboratory animal scientists. This visit includes
tours of four primate colonies: rhesus, chimpanzee, owl monkey, and
squirrel monkeys. After a lunch meeting with the veterinarians,
students tour the pathology support laboratories.
Hosts: Drs. W Satterfield, C Abee, B Bernacky, W Baze, A Brady, J
Ruiz, K Barnhart, M MacArthur & others.
Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious
Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch
(Galveston, TX). Students meet and have lunch with
several scientists conducting research on zoonotic pathogens. About
half of the scientists are veterinarians from US and European
colleges. The students also get a "virtual" tour of a BSL-4
laboratory. Students have the opportunity to learn that
veterinarians & animal disease research have a place
anywhere.
Hosts: D Walker, MD; K Schuenke, PhD; F Murphy, DVM, PhD; C
Fulhorst, DVM, DrPH; S Paessler, DVM, PhD; P Adams, DVM, PhD; S
Higgs, PhD; & others.
Comparative Cardiovascular Laboratory, Texas Heart
Institute (Houston, TX). Students
visit with scientists and tour the animal facilities at THI, where
translational research on ventricular assist devices and vascular
stents is conducted. They also have an opportunity to view
cardiovascular surgery from the observation deck of the operating
suite. Students are introduced to veterinarians' roles in
translational research.
Hosts: F Clubb, DVM, PhD, G Costas, DVM.
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
(Houston, TX).
Students tour the Comparative Medicine facilties at TMHRI, which
is responsible for "judicious and humane use of preclinical study
models in the pursuit of scientific excellence for the benefit of
human and animal health." This visit coincides with the tour of
THI.
Host: M Ihrig, DVM, MS
Texas
A&M Institute for Pre-Clinical Studies
(TAMU)
Tour of TIPS, a state-of-the-art facility for GLP-compliant large
animal preclinical studies. Students observe surgery suites, animal
housing, and advanced imaging technologies.
Host: M Lennox, PhD
Comparative Medicine Program
(TAMU)
Tour of the laboratory Laboratory Animal Resources and Research
(LARR) facilities at TAMU.
Host: V Gresham, DVM