Recipient Organization
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
200 WESTBORO ROAD
N. GRAFTON,MA 01536
Performing Department
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
There is a need for researchers in the field of veterinary medicine and comparative biomedical sciences to participate in academic as well as corporate based research in the fields of animal and human health. As we enter the 21st century, it is crucial for members of the veterinary profession to acquire the scientific skills and technical training together with the conceptual framework to participate both as independent researchers and collaborators to meet the projected research needs in biomedical sciences associated with veterinary medicine. This master's program is designed to train bright and highly motivated veterinary students to conduct carefully designed, hypothesis-driven biomedical research in a productive and active research setting that uses a range of animal models. A longer-term objective is to make this training experience (1) a foundation for career involvement in research and (2) to stimulate intellectual growth and productivity within our academic
environment at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
This training grant has been incorporated into a joint DVM/MS degree program at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The students spend 15 months working in the laboratory of a mentor conducting hypothesis-driven research. Training in experimental design, statistics and ethics is included as part of the training program.
Project Methods
Students spend 15 months gaining research training in the biomedical sciences, working towards their Master's degree. Training begins in June after completion of either the 1st, 2nd or 4th year of veterinary school and continues through August of the following year. Students enroll in a limited number of courses and spend the majority of their time conducting research on an approved thesis topic. The Director of the Master's program administers the Master's component of the combined DVM/MS program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences with the assistance of the Master's Program Committee (MPC) in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the program faculty, the Graduate Studies Manager, and the Graduate Studies Committee. All students applying to the Master's program are required to have completed veterinary course work in physiological chemistry, physiology, immunology, and developmental bio. Depending upon the individual student's research area, he or she may be required
to audit an additional course (e.g. parasitology, neuroscience). During the fall semester, students take a course entitled The Fundamentals of Animal Research that examines a combination of issues relevant to animal and laboratory research. During the spring semester, students attend a bimonthly research seminar program where students present their projects for discussion.