K-State's chapter won first place in the parasitology and diagnostic pathology divisions and second place in the exotic animal and animal husbandry division. Chris Ross, assistant professor of anatomy and physiology, served as an ad hoc reviewer for a National Institutes of Health pathology study section meeting. During the past three years, Ross has served as a reviewer for four grant review meetings, which are held to summarize rigorous, peer-reviewed evaluation of basic biomedical research grants. Veterinary researchers at K-State have filed a patent on a vaccine for pneumonia in pigs. The vaccine could save American pork producers millions of dollars each year.
Pneumonia is highly contagious and can kill dozens of pigs quickly.
Researchers are hoping to find companies to license the rights to the patent and start producing the vaccine commercially. In October 1994, K-State established the Center for Food Animal Production Medicine. Dr. Jerry Gillespie directs the research and teaching center, which will conduct food animal production medical research and offer post-DVM instruction. Traditionally, dogs and cats are neutered between six months and one year of age. But pediatric neutering, which is performed before eight weeks of age, is one approach to the problem of pet overpopulation.