Programs and Activities Highlights
- 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.
- ORIP and National Eye Institute Training Programs
Training Program Directors from ORIP and the National Eye Institute met on September 16, 2024, to compare their training program outcomes and future strategies. ORIP's Division of Comparative Medicine offers career development support for individuals with D.V.M. or Ph.D. degrees, as well as predoctoral veterinary students.
Read more in the archive.
ORIP-Supported Research Highlights
- Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signaling Mediates Shedding of Measles Virus–Infected Respiratory Epithelial Cells
Measles virus (MeV) is an infectious respiratory virus that has a significant global impact and is a major cause of childhood mortality. A single infected person can transmit MeV to nearly 20 other people. Respiratory epithelial cells (cells that line the respiratory system) are the target of MeV infection, and shedding these cells into airborne droplets allows transmission to other people. Researchers used epithelial cells isolated from the tracheas of rhesus macaques (sex not specified) to understand the mechanisms underlying how MeV-infected epithelial cells are shed. Results showed that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling plays a key role in cell shedding. Inhibiting S1P signaling delayed MeV-infected epithelial shedding and increased the amount of virus in the epithelial lining. These findings demonstrate the key role of host cellular responses in MeV infection
- A Potential Role for c-MYC in the Regulation of Meibocyte Cell Stress
The integrated stress response (ISR) controls cell survival and promotes apoptosis (a type of cell death) through the protein CHOP during prolonged or severe stress. The ISR has not been evaluated in cancers originating in the glands of the eyelid, such as ocular adnexal sebaceous carcinoma (SebCA). Although SebCA is uncommon, mortality rates of up to 40% have been reported. Researchers studied the role of MYC in regulating the ISR in human meibomian gland epithelial cells (HMGECs) located in the eyelid. Results showed that inhibiting MYC in HMGECs stimulates the ISR, results in a smaller increase in the number of cells, and promotes apoptosis. These data support the role of high MYC as an underlying mechanism for SebCA tumorigenesis.
- Activated Polyreactive B Cells Are Clonally Expanded in Autoantibody Positive and Patients with Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Patients who are prediabetic do not have symptoms but do have autoantibodies (cells that target a normal molecule in the body) present. However, it remains largely unknown how autoreactive B cells affect the development of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Researchers isolated B cells from the blood of patients with T1D, patients who were prediabetic (AAB), and relatives who were not diabetic and not autoreactive. Results showed that B cells from AAB and T1D patients have altered gene expression in cell signaling and inflammation pathways. These results provide a foundation for future studies focused on identifying biomarkers or creating cell-targeted treatments for T1D.
- From In Vitro Development to Accessible Luminal Interface of Neonatal Bovine-Derived Intestinal Organoids
Diarrhea caused by infectious agents in the intestine of newborns remains a major human health concern. Three-dimensional (3D) culture techniques of intestinal epithelial cells have been developed to study host–pathogen interactions as new approach methodologies (NAMs) that complement animal research. With these methods, primary intestinal stem cells from donor intestinal crypts are cultured within an extracellular matrix, which supports the self-organization of the multipotent cells into 3D structures known as intestinal organoids. In this study, the team developed intestinal organoids and organoid-derived single-layer cell cultures to enable research on early-life intestinal function and disease. These organoids captured key aspects of the gastrointestinal lining, how it functions, and the unique roles of different cell types. These models replicate the in vivo intestinal epithelium through their multicellularity, self-replication, and differentiation into mature epithelial cell types and provide a complementary platform for studying human health and disease.
- Alterations in Tumor Aggression Following Androgen Receptor Signaling Restoration in Canine Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks second worldwide in cancer-related mortality, but only a few animal models exhibit naturally occurring PCa that recapitulates the symptoms of the disease. Neutered dogs have an increased risk of PCa and often lack androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which is involved in upregulating tumorigenesis but can also suppress aggressive cell growth. In this study, researchers sought to understand more about the role of AR signaling in canine PCa initiation and progression by restoring AR in canine PCa cell lines and treating them with dihydrotestosterone. One cell line exhibited AR-mediated tumor suppression; one cell line showed altered proliferation (but not migration or invasion); and a third cell line exhibited AR-mediated alterations in migration and invasion (but not proliferation). The study highlights the heterogeneous nature of PCa in dogs and humans but suggests that AR signaling might have therapeutic potential under certain conditions.
Read more in the archive.
