Eleven grants have been awarded to Auburn University faculty through a university research initiative in support of interdisciplinary cancer research efforts.

The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer (AURIC), based at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has announced funding of 11 grants to nine investigators through its Seed Grant program.  Each grant is for one year and up to $20,000. 

The list of awardees includes faculty from Auburn’s Harrison School of Pharmacy, College of Human Science, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine. 

AURIC was created to improve both human and animal health, foster an environment of excellence in cancer research, promote research that enhances competitiveness to advance the understanding of the biology of cancer, and foster the translation of novel technologies from the laboratory to the clinic.

AURIC embodies the “One Medicine” concept which links human, animal and environmental health, and where discoveries in one species advance health in all species. “AURIC is human medicine, animal medicine, research and diagnostics where faculty, students, and staff are working together to solve the complex puzzle of cancer,” said Dr. Bruce Smith, director of AURIC. [Read More]

NBC animal welfare correspondent Jill Rappaport interviewed Auburn and iK9 researchers about the Vapor Wake® Detection program at the Canine Detection Research Institute in Anniston, Ala., part of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Animal Health Performance Program.

While NBC Nightly News was pre-empted in some time zones (due to a sporting event), it did air in other time zones. In case you missed it, watch it here.

Alabama media have also picked up on the story. Birmingham WBRC (Fox6) reporter Sherea Harris featured the crime fighting canines, which was picked up by several Alabama television stations. Watch it here.

Al.com, the online version of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile Register, also had an article, photos and video. Read it here.

The Vapor Wake® program was recently featured on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° and The Discovery Channel has also filmed a piece for its Daily Planet series (no air date yet).

Lillian Shortle, 13, puts her hand through a fistula to feel inside a dairy cows rumen Wednesday at Veterinary Camp "Large Animal Day" at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. (Photo - Albert Cesare / acesare@oanow.com)

Last week, 30 junior high school students enjoyed a unique type of summer camp.

They were not swimming or paddling canoes, but they were sticking their hands inside a cow's stomach and learning how to shave down the teeth of a horse.

The students participated in Auburn University’s fourth summer of veterinary camps, where they learned about all types of animals from large mammals to fish.

“They really get a little of everything,” said Kris Street, administrator in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “It kind of reminds me of a little sampler platter, where they get a little sample of everything and they can decide, ‘Hey, wow, I really like this,’ or they can say, ‘You know what, this type of veterinary medicine is not anything I want to do.’"

The camp started last Monday and continued through Friday with unique lessons each day from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. The programming is guided by veterinary students with the help of faculty members.

A second camp for high school students begins Monday, June 17 and will run through Friday, June 21. [read complete article]

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be difficult to diagnose and quick diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death, says lead researcher Vitaly Vodyanoy of Auburn University. The biosensor can identify a specific bacteria in as little as 10 minutes compared to hours.

Vodyanoy, a professor in Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said he and his research team created the prototype biosensor as the first step in fighting superbugs like MRSA, methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics that can cause skin infections and even death.

The disease is of particular concern to hospitals, prisons and the military, where individuals are at risk for infection from unhygienic close quarters. Also, data from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention show that 12 million doctor visits a year are for suspected staph and MRSA skin infections.

The research, published in the May 8 edition of Journal of Visualized Experiments, JoVE, is a collaborative effort among Vodyanoy, a professor of physiology and director of the Biosensor Laboratory, and Keesler Air Force Base, with funding from the U.S. Air Force.

“What we have studied to date has been laboratory conditions,” Vodyanoy said. We are ready to take the next step in our research, which is clinical studies with people.”

[Read More]

• Elizabeth Brady, Clinical Sciences
• Cristine Kritzer, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
• Talia Gillespie, Clinical Sciences
• Janet Mccoy, Administration