Programs and Activities Highlights
- National Association of Veterinary Scientists D.V.M./Ph.D. Colloquium
An ORIP staff member presented a keynote talk, titled “NIH Funding Opportunities for Veterinarian-Scientists,” at the National Association of Veterinary Scientists D.V.M./Ph.D. Colloquium in August 2025. An ORIP staff member also served as a panelist at the D.V.M./Ph.D. Alumni Panel during this meeting.
- Specialized Research Training in Animal Models and Related Resources: Focus Group, Session 2
ORIP held a series of focus groups involving veterinary trainees, early-career scientists, mentors, and training program directors to identify and cultivate opportunities for collaborations and partnerships that address challenges and synergize strategies and resources supporting recruitment and retention of veterinary scientists. In the second session, held May 15, 2025, selected current trainees supported by ORIP T32 grants were invited to discuss the challenges and opportunities that exist in the current program. Additionally, early-career scientists—including ORIP K01 awardees, applicants, and graduates of the T32 program—were invited to discuss challenges faced by early-career scientists.
- T32 and T35 Directors Consortium
The T32 and T35 Directors Consortium was convened on June 2, 2025. ORIP staff presented the latest NIH policies during the meeting. ORIP offers Institutional Research Training Grants through the T32 and T35 mechanisms to encourage veterinarians to consider a career in biomedical research.
- Specialized Research Training in Animal Models and Related Resources: Focus Group, Session 1
ORIP held a series of focus groups involving veterinary trainees, early-career scientists, mentors, and training program directors to identify and cultivate opportunities for collaborations and partnerships that address challenges and synergize strategies and resources supporting recruitment and retention of veterinary scientists. In the first session, held April 11, 2025, selected training program directors and mentors in the ORIP T32 program were invited to discuss the challenges and opportunities that exist in the current program.
- K01 Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) Guidelines
In April 2025, ORIP updated its K01 SERCA guidelines with new language covering updated ORIP priorities, including new approach methodologies (NAMs) for complementing animal research relevant to human health and diseases. The SERCA is intended to stimulate the development of veterinary scientists with interests in comparative medicine and related research questions.
Read more in the archive.
ORIP-Supported Research Highlights
- Loss of Hepatocyte-Specific RECK Exacerbates Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a serious liver disease resulting from excess fat buildup. MASH is a major health crisis worldwide due to increases in obesity and insulin resistance, and it is a leading cause for liver transplants in the Western world. The current approach for MASH treatment involves lifestyle changes. Therefore, identifying new ways to treat MASH is critical. Reversion Inducing Cysteine Rich Protein with Kazal Motifs (RECK) is a molecule that regulates the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM surrounds a cell, provides structural support, and enhances signaling. The role of RECK in metabolic liver disease is poorly understood. The researchers showed in a previous study that RECK gain-of-function (increased amounts above normal) in liver cells protected mice against diet-induced MASH. In this study, researchers used two mouse models (sex not specified) that depleted RECK in liver cells. They showed that the lack of RECK significantly increased inflammation, cell swelling, and fibrosis (too much ECM). These studies highlight RECK’s potential as a novel therapy for MASH.
- Remdesivir Postexposure Prophylaxis Limits Measles-Induced “Immune Amnesia” and Measles Antibody Responses in Macaques
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is a leading cause of childhood illness and death around the world. The measles virus (MeV) replicates considerably in tissue where immune cells are produced and activated. MeV causes the immune system to lose circulating antibodies (a protein that binds to a specific antigen and helps the immune system destroy it) against other pathogens, which leaves the infected child susceptible to other infectious diseases. Researchers wanted to determine whether remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral (a drug that affects a wide range of viruses), can hinder MeV-induced loss of antibodies to other pathogens. They measured antibody reactivity using a MeV rhesus macaque model (both sexes included). Remdesivir given 3–14 days after MeV infection limited the loss of antibodies to non-MeV pathogens. Remdesivir also reduced the immune system’s ability to mount an antibody response to MeV. This study shows that early treatment of measles with remdesivir prevents the loss of antibodies against other pathogens but lessens the response to MeV.
- Microbiome and Metabolome Association Network Analysis Identifies Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 as a Stronger Keystone Genus Candidate Than Bifidobacterium in the Gut of Common Marmosets
The common marmoset is a nonhuman primate model for the microbiome (the collection of microorganisms found in the body) studies. Previous studies have shown significant variation in the gut microbiome among individual common marmosets due to such factors as diet, age, sex, and captivity. Researchers identified how the gut microbiome and metabolome (the collection of molecules made or used during the chemical processes of a cell) change over time, using fecal samples collected from 1- to 9-year-old healthy marmosets of both sexes. Results showed that certain bacteria have a stronger influence within the gut than others. Bifidobacterium was the most abundant genus (a higher level of classification than species) of bacteria and the driver of microbiome differences among individual marmosets. Also, the results suggest that Bacteroidales bacteria compete with Bifidobacterium for resources within the gut. The researchers created a Keystone Candidate Score to identify the most influential bacteria, which were Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Alloprevotella. This study provides insight into how the microbiome—including interactions among different bacteria and competition for resources—affects the health of common marmosets.
- Acute Degradation of Nucleolin Reveals Its Novel Functions in Cell Cycle Progression and Cell Division in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
The nucleolus is a vital compartment within the cell where ribosomes (which link amino acids together to form proteins) are assembled. Traditional experimental methods cannot deplete nucleolar proteins (proteins that make up the nucleolus) while keeping the cell alive, which limits our understanding of the biological functions of these proteins. Researchers used two advanced techniques to successfully deplete and identify the biological functions of nucleolin (NCL) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. NCL is one of the most abundant nucleolar proteins in the body. Results showed that depleting NCL in TNBC cells causes defects in cytokinesis, a step in cell division. Defects in cell division result in a smaller increase in TNBC cell numbers. Cancer therapies that target cellular mitosis (the process of a single cell dividing into two new cells) were more useful when NCL was degraded. This research supports a new role for NCL in TNBC cell division and reveals that inhibiting NCL may enhance cancer therapies.
- Dia–B–Ties: B Cells in the Islet–Immune–Cell Interface in T1D
Roughly 30 million people worldwide suffer from type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is an autoimmune disease that requires lifelong use of insulin. A key feature of T1D is T-cell-driven damage of insulin-producing β islet cells in the pancreas. This review discusses the role of B lymphocytes (an immune cell) in T1D disease development and progression. B lymphocytes are an essential mediator of communication between other immune cell types and islet cells in what is known as the islet–immune interface. B lymphocytes coordinate communication among different cell types through antigen (a substance that tells your immune system whether something is harmful) presentation, cytokine secretion, and antibody production. Using these methods, B lymphocytes activate autoreactive (an antibody that targets a normal molecule within a person) T cells that target islet cells, which amplifies inflammation in the pancreas during the initial stages of T1D development. The review outlines current and potential therapies that target B lymphocytes. These therapies potentially could be beneficial in T1D treatment.
Read more in the archive.
