Cardiovascular studies currently involve a mechanical pump ultimately intended for humans with heart failure. Research in nephrology centers on an inherited nephropathy in dogs and involves national and international collaboration. In addition to other areas of investigation, the nutrition program is active in determining the dietary role of fatty acids in health and disease in small animals. The clinical neurology program is aimed at investigating the mechanisms of neurologic disorders in dogs and cats. Much of the research conducted by faculty members in the Department of VSAM is clinical and includes studies involving actual patients or specimens from patients.
Investigators evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of diseases and novel therapies.
Basic research is also part of the VSAM program and studies are presently significant in GI, renal and nutritional research. Goals include the elucidation of mechanisms of diseases in veterinary patients, development of treatment strategies and generation of comparative data to promote better understanding of diseases in human beings. Both veterinarians and non-veterinarians are involved in Master s degree and Ph.D. programs in the area of gastroenterology. The Department of VSAM presently administers a Master s degree program, and some of the Master s and Ph.D. programs are co-administered with other departments of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Such programs are relatively uncommon even among the land-grant institutions where both colleges of veterinary medicine and agriculture exist.