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Local Research With Global Impacts
Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers within the School of Veterinary Medicine have studied ways to better understand, control and prevent this and future epidemics. For example, Professor Tom Friedrich is tracking slight mutations in the genetic sequences of virus samples collected from infected patients in Wisconsin -- findings that can help target pandemic interventions. His lab's latest study shows that a family tree of more than 200 variations in SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) helps explain why Dane and Milwaukee counties had such different early experiences with the pandemic. The data also shows how well public health orders initially slowed the rate of infection.
Related: In new research published this month in Science, Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka and collaborators show that a mutated SARS-CoV-2 virus -- now the dominant form across the globe -- is more easily transmitted and grows better within hosts, likely aiding its dominance.
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School News
The latest updates on research, faculty and staff, and other happenings at the school.
New, More Precise Radiotherapy
Most significantly, the Radixact system provides real-time motion tracking of tumors and treatment synchronization, ensuring accurate delivery of the treatment dose to the tumor and better sparing of the surrounding normal tissue. The live tracking and synchronization also open up new treatment opportunities for cancers in the abdomen and thorax, where the proximity of vital organs and other sensitive tissues made radiation therapy previously difficult or impossible.
UW Veterinary Care is currently the only veterinary medical hospital globally to offer this treatment. Gifts to the school's Pets Make a Difference Fund -- inspired by WeatherTech's 2020 Super Bowl commercial featuring the late golden retriever Scout and the UW School of Veterinary Medicine -- helped to make possible this important equipment upgrade.
2020 Holiday Cards
The UW School of Veterinary Medicine's annual holiday cards are the perfect gift for animal lovers on your list. Your recipients will enjoy beautiful, original artwork and you will be supporting our school, hospital and students in their honor. Our 2020 holiday cards, "Short and Sweet" and "Golden Moments" (right), feature the original artwork of Wisconsin artist Robin Raab.
Funds raised support our efforts to improve animals' health and wellbeing, provide compassionate care to our patients, enhance educational opportunities for our students, and support excellence and innovation that keep our school at the forefront of veterinary medicine. You can purchase cards online or download an order form.
Recent Research Advances
Professor Tony Goldberg led the American efforts among an international team that collaborated to describe the first two relatives of the rubella virus ever found, their similarities to rubella virus, and their differences.
A gene that cured a man of HIV a decade ago has been successfully added to developing monkey embryos in an effort to study more potential treatments for the disease. Professor Ted Golos and collaborators employed CRISPR to edit the DNA.
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Alumni Updates
The latest news about your classmates and items of special interest to alumni.
Andrew Alexander DVM'93 PhD'00 has joined Inotiv, a leading provider of drug discovery and development services, as vice president of pharmacology and toxicology operations.
Tom Bach DVM'94 of Lakeview Veterinary Clinic in Madison assumed the role of president of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) in October. He also joined the UW School of Veterinary Medicine Board of Visitors as WVMA representative.
Karen Hershberger-Braker DVM'10 spoke with JAVMA News about ways UW School of Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff learned new technologies and exchanged best practices and support during a shift to hybrid instruction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Memoriam
The UW School of Veterinary Medicine regrets to announce the loss of an alumnus.
Joseph Edward Kelley DVM'89, 59, passed away earlier this month following a four-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). "Joe was the person who made everybody feel like a somebody," his obituary reads. Veterinary medicine was his passion. He was an outstanding clinician and surgeon at Sauk Prairie Small Animal Hospital and served as a mentor and teacher to many. Kelley went on seven international relief trips offering free spay and neuter clinics. Through these trips, he impacted many young veterinarians and built connections with all he met.
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Ongoing Clinical Trials
The Small Animal Neurology Service is enrolling canine patients with a history of seizures receiving end-of-life treatment at UW Veterinary Care. This study will evaluate the cause and effect of seizures on the brain in dogs and investigate the clinical signs and physical changes to the brain that are caused by seizures. The aim is to determine if temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common type of epilepsy in humans, occurs in dogs. This will allow better understanding of epilepsy in dogs and advance treatment options for dogs with epilepsy.
Learn about other clinical trials. |
Upcoming Events
December 7
Virtual Alumni Reception (AAEP Convention)
4 p.m.
If interested in participating, please contact Kristi Thorson for login information.
Thank you to those who joined us virtually for the 2020 SVM Alumni Reunion earlier this month, celebrating the graduating Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. (An in-person Alumni Reunion was initially scheduled for June but was canceled due to COVID-19.)
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