Merck Scholars 1993

This summer, for the third year in a row, students from the College of Veterinary Medicine participated in a research program sponsored by the Merck Foundation and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Drs. Gary Osweiler, Prem Paul and Donald Reynolds spearheaded the project this year. Seven of the nine students in the program were sponsored by the Merck Foundation and two were sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine. Each student was required to write a research proposal and to carry out a research project in conjunction with a professor from the college

Outstanding Advisor Award 1994 College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Monica O. Howard

The recipient of the first annual Outstanding Advisor Award for the College of Veterinary Medicine was Dr. Monica O. Howard, D.V.M., Ph. D. Dr. Howard received her D.V.M. from the Tuskegee Institute in 1982, and in 1990 she received her Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Pathology from Oklahoma State University. She then began her current position at Iowa State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology. Since its inception, Dr. Howard has been a part of the advising program at the College of Veterinary Medicine. It is set up as a volunteer program. Faculty who volunteer are assigned a certain number of students based on the amount of time they\u27ve indicated they are willing or able to spend as an advisor. There are no guidelines set up that stipulate how much time or effort an instructor must put into his or her advisory position

Neurofibromin Deficient Myeloid Cells are Critical Mediators of Aneurysm Formation In Vivo

Background Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Neurofibromin, the protein product of NF1, functions as a negative regulator of Ras activity in circulating hematopoietic and vascular wall cells, which are critical for maintaining vessel wall homeostasis. NF1 patients have evidence of chronic inflammation resulting in development of premature cardiovascular disease, including arterial aneurysms, which may manifest as sudden death. However, the molecular pathogenesis of NF1 aneurysm formation is unknown. Method and Results Utilizing an angiotensin II-induced aneurysm model, we demonstrate that heterozygous inactivation of Nf1 (Nf1+/−) enhanced aneurysm formation with myeloid cell infiltration and increased oxidative stress in the vessel wall. Using lineage-restricted transgenic mice, we show loss of a single Nf1 allele in myeloid cells is sufficient to recapitulate the Nf1+/− aneurysm phenotype in vivo. Finally, oral administration of simvastatin or the antioxidant apocynin, reduced aneurysm formation in Nf1+/− mice. Conclusion These data provide genetic and pharmacologic evidence that Nf1+/− myeloid cells are the cellular triggers for aneurysm formation in a novel model of NF1 vasculopathy and provide a potential therapeutic target

Outstanding Advisor Award 1994 College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Monica O. Howard

The recipient of the first annual Outstanding Advisor Award for the College of Veterinary Medicine was Dr. Monica O. Howard, D.V.M., Ph. D. Dr. Howard received her D.V.M. from the Tuskegee Institute in 1982, and in 1990 she received her Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Pathology from Oklahoma State University. She then began her current position at Iowa State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology. Since its inception, Dr. Howard has been a part of the advising program at the College of Veterinary Medicine. It is set up as a volunteer program. Faculty who volunteer are assigned a certain number of students based on the amount of time they've indicated they are willing or able to spend as an advisor. There are no guidelines set up that stipulate how much time or effort an instructor must put into his or her advisory position.</p

Merck Scholars 1993

This summer, for the third year in a row, students from the College of Veterinary Medicine participated in a research program sponsored by the Merck Foundation and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Drs. Gary Osweiler, Prem Paul and Donald Reynolds spearheaded the project this year. Seven of the nine students in the program were sponsored by the Merck Foundation and two were sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine. Each student was required to write a research proposal and to carry out a research project in conjunction with a professor from the college.</p