Message from the Associate Dean for Research

Harm HogenEsch, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs

Discovery is an integral part of our mission at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine (PVM) and is aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of animals and people. Our research is characterized by two overarching characteristics: comparative and translational. "Comparative" refers to the fact that we investigate diseases in different animal species and that discoveries made in one species can often be applied to others.  Examples are influenza, a disease which afflicts people, poultry, swine, horses and dogs; and cancer, which is, unfortunately, as common in companion animals as it is in people.

The broad training that veterinarians receive prepares them well for comparative research. Fundamental research in the College of Veterinary Medicine is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to injury and infection, and the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells. Through collaborations with clinical faculty, discoveries made in the laboratory can be rapidly "translated" into practical applications for treatment and prevention of diseases in animals and people.

Concentrating our resources on five focus areas of research enables us to build a critical mass of expertise in order to make significant contributions to the knowledge-base.

Our research is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative. PVM faculty collaborate with scholars in other colleges on the Purdue University campus, in the Indiana University School of Medicine, and, indeed, with scientists at universities, research institutions and companies across the US and abroad. Our College is also an essential component of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which is a joint effort between Purdue University, Indiana University, and the University of Notre Dame, with funding from the National Institutes of Health. This partnership emphasizes the importance of PVM discovery efforts not only for animal health, but also human and public health.

An established and high quality research program is also pivotal to training the next generation of biomedical scientists. First and second year veterinary students have the opportunity to participate in research under the guidance of PVM mentors in the Veterinary Summer Research Program. Departmental graduate programs and the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences graduate program involving our College and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering provide advanced research training leading to a M.S. or Ph.D. degree, and post-doctoral fellows work in laboratories in the final stage of their preparation for an independent research career. The graduates of these programs are highly capable and motivated to bring innovative solutions to current and future problems in animal and human health.

We hope that you enjoy exploring the information we offer you through this website about the interesting research in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the people who carry out this work with passion and dedication.

Harm HogenEsch, DVM, PhD