Archive - October 2012

The Puccini Foundation for Comparative Oncology recently expanded its board of directors and scientific advisory council with leaders from the medical and business fields. Dr. Annette Smith, associate professor of oncology and small animal internal medicine and coordinator of Auburn’s oncology program, is a member of its scientific advisory council.

The foundation was formed in 2007 by Linda Cohen Wassong to educate the public and to raise funds for comparative oncology research. In 2006, Wassong’s cocker spaniel and longtime companion, Puccini, was stricken with melanoma. Her dog participated in clinical trials as part of a partnership between veterinarians at New York’s Animal Medical Center and human oncology researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Through the trials, Puccini’s quality and quantity of life were extended. The treatment he received went on to become the first and only USDA-approved, therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of cancer in animals or humans. The information from the canine clinical trials is being used in ongoing research by MSKCC to investigate potential implications for a human treatment.

October Issue, 2012 Over 1300 copies of VetSpeak were recently mailed to veterinarians referring cases to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The newsletter will be published quarterly and includes information relevant to alumni practitioners and referring veterinarians. The newsletter will include:  Hospital Policy Changes New Services Offered Changes in Hours of Operation College News Highlights Diagnostic Service Contacts and much more!

If you would like to receive e-mail notification as new issues are available, please do so at the following link. By subscribing, you will also receive other important information e-mailed to referring veterinarians. 

Subscribe today!

Auburn’s Epsilon Phi Zeta Chapter will host Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day on Nov. 7. CVM students and faculty will present their research through platform and poster presentations in Overton throughout the day.  Awards for best poster and seminar will be presented at the annual banquet that evening with new members inducted into the society.

Dr. Greg Barsh, an investigator with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville and professor of genetics (emeritus) at Stanford University School of Medicine, is the Phi Zeta keynote speaker and Joy Goodwin Lecturer. Dr. Barsh will present “Genetics of Color Variation: Model Organisms in a Post-Genome World” at 4 p.m. in Overton Auditorium.

Dr. Stuart Price serves as chapter president.

• 8 -11 a.m.                    
• Graduate Student Platform Presentations
• 11 a.m. -1 p.m.          
• Poster Presentations (presenters present 11-12)
• 12-1 p.m.                   
• Speaker’s Luncheon with Graduate Students and Residents (locationTBA)
• 1:15-2:30 p.m.           
• Veterinary Student Platform Presentation
• 2:45-3:45 p.m.           
• Post-Graduate/Faculty Platform Presentations
• 4 p.m.                         
• Keynote and Joy Goodwin Lecture, Dr. Greg Barsh
• Overton Auditorium
• 6:30 p.m.                    
• Phi Zeta Banquet, Induction Ceremony, and Awards Ceremony
• Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center

The CVM held a tailgate lunch and hot dog eating contest on Oct. 26 in the lameness arena to benefit the Good SamaritanFund. Dr. Jill Narak returned to defend her title, but she and the other competitors lost to Thomas Turcotte and Chase Elrod who downed 10 dogs apiece. A literal “runoff” was held with Turcotte and Elrod sprinting from the barn to the arena. Turcotte, who is from Jasper, Ga., and a member of CVM’s class of 2016, emerged victorious. Chase Elrod is the son of Lisa Elrod, a neuro technician in Clinical Sciences.

The Good Samaritan Fund is used to treat animals that are ownerless. To donate to the fund, contact Jan Chamblin in the CVM development office. Checks made payable to the Auburn University Foundation may be mailed to: Jan Chamblin, Auburn University Foundation, 317 South College Street, Auburn AL 36849.  Please note “Good Samaritan Fund” on your check.

The Animal Health and Performance Program's Vapor Wake detection program is featured in a new profile on the Auburn University Research web page. How a Vapor Wake detection dog and handler identify the scent trail of explosive materials is explained in a short video that includes Auburn canines in action, national TV news footage, and a testimonial from the counter-terrorism and special operations chief at Los Angeles International Airport. The Vapor Wake detection program is also featured in a 30-second video that airs on the Jordan-Hare jumbotron during each home football game. Visit this link to see the profile and videos.

Bids due Nov. 13- 

Foals and mares are being offered for adoption by sealed bid through the equine theriogenology service.  To see them, the sires, or the dams from the foals or prospective foals, contact Dr. Aime Johnson to schedule an appointment.  All animals are up to date on vaccines, deworming, and Coggins.  All have had a dental examination with floating within the past 6 months.

The foals are currently enrolled in the halter breaking and training class at the Auburn horse unit.  When they graduate, they will lead, tie, stand to be clipped, trimmed (hooves), load in a trailer, and learn the basics of lunging.  Two of the mares are currently in foal with very promising offspring.

Information and photos on the horses can be seen at this link. Bids are due to 104 Greene Hall by 4 p.m. on Nov. 13.

• Dr. Stephanie Schleis and graduate student Dr. Wesley Campbell on their grant award from the Birmingham Racing Commission for the proposal “Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide in horses.”
• Dr. Cinzia Mastrorilli-Wenzel (Pathobiology) and Dr. Jim Wenzel (Clinical Sciences) on the birth of their daughter, Patricia Maria Wenzel, on Oct. 21. The baby weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. and she was 20 inches long. 
• Matt Shiver (Clinical Sciences purchasing coordinator) and his wife Tiffany on the birth of their son, Gabriel Ray Shiver, on Oct. 22. Gabriel weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.