Programs and Activities Highlights
- Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
ORIP released two K01 career development awards—Lymphatic Regulation of Neutrophil Phenotypes in Wound Healing: A Microphysiological Approach with Microbiome-Based Therapeutic Insights (1K01OD040624-01) and Neutrophil-Targeted Therapy for Severe Asthma (1K01OD039838-01A1)—in July 2026 to support the early-career development of veterinary scientists and advance research aligned with the NIH mission. These awards provide protected time, mentoring, and research support for promising investigators to build independent research programs focused on neutrophil biology, inflammation, tissue repair, and immune-mediated disease. By supporting such innovative approaches as microphysiological systems, microbiome-informed therapeutics, and targeted interventions for severe asthma, ORIP is helping to strengthen the veterinary scientist workforce and promote translational research that improves the understanding of living systems, informs new therapeutic strategies, reduces the number of animals in scientific experimentation, and ultimately contributes to better human health outcomes.
- Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
ORIP released a small grant award—Establishing Pre-clinical Models of Osimertinib Resistance-Mediated Brain Metastasis (1R03OD039968-01)—in June 2026 as part of its commitment to supporting the early-career development of veterinary scientists and providing continued research opportunities for K01 awardees. This project will help establish and refine preclinical models to investigate mechanisms of osimertinib resistance associated with brain metastasis, addressing an important barrier in translational cancer research and therapeutic development. Enabling early-career veterinary scientists to expand research independence and generate critical preliminary data aligns with the NIH mission of advancing fundamental knowledge about living systems and applying that knowledge to improve health, reduce illness, and inform future interventions for serious diseases.
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)
ORIP released two institutional training awards—Animal Model Research for Veterinarians (2T32OD028239-06A1) and Comparative Biomedical Research Training for Veterinarians (2T32OD011083-16)—in June 2026 to strengthen the pipeline of veterinary scientists contributing to biomedical research. These awards support structured research training for veterinarians in such areas as research model development, translational research, new approach methodologies, and rigorous experimental design, equipping trainees with the skills needed to address human health challenges. By investing in veterinary scientist research training programs, ORIP advances the NIH mission of seeking fundamental knowledge about living systems and applying that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, while also ensuring a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting high-quality and reproducible biomedical research.
- Human Tissues and Organs for Research Resource Pilot Award
An ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 awardee received a pilot award through the Human Tissues and Organs for Research Resource (HTORR). Launched in 2024, the Pilot Award Program, a component of the ORIP-supported supported HTORR program, supports early-stage investigators by providing up to ten biological specimens to facilitate completion of pilot studies and collection of preliminary data necessary to obtain subsequent funding. This pilot award will allow Dr. Yoko Ambrosini, an ORIP SERCA K01 awardee, to incorporate human new approach methodologies into her research on epithelial–immune–microbial crosstalk in the gut–brain axis of inflammatory bowel disease.
- 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.
Read more in the archive.
ORIP-Supported Research Highlights
- Construction of Saturated Tn-Seq Libraries of Brucella abortus S19 for Transposon Insertion and Effective Density Analysis Across Stress Conditions
Brucella abortus is a bacterial pathogen that can spread between animals and humans. It is highly resilient and can survive in harsh conditions, including acidic environments, exposure to harmful oxygen-containing molecules, and the body’s natural antimicrobial defenses. To better understand how B. abortus survives and causes infection, researchers created large sequencing libraries using the weakened S19 strain of the bacteria with different genetic disruptions. Using this tool, they identified genes that are important for the pathogen’s survival. This rich dataset can be used to explore the genetic fitness of the pathogen B. abortus across multiple environments.
- Impact of Sample Processing Method and Volume on 16 S rRNA Profiling of the Urobiome
The urinary microbiome (urobiome) plays an important role in the health of the urinary and reproductive systems in both humans and animals. Studying these microbial communities can be challenging because urine contains very small numbers of microbes. Researchers compared two methods for processing urine samples from dogs of both sexes—vacuum filtration and pelleting—as well as different sample volumes. They evaluated how these approaches affected bacterial DNA recovery, contamination levels, and the diversity of microbes detected. The results showed that both methods produced similar microbial profiles, even when using smaller urine samples. Overall, the findings suggest that differences in urinary microbiomes are driven mainly by biology rather than sample-processing methods, provided that careful steps are taken to control contamination.
- Triphenyl Phosphate Promotes Lipid Accumulation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through Metabolic Stress Pathways
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are chemicals commonly added to plastics and other products to improve flexibility and reduce fire risk. Growing evidence suggests that OPEs can interfere with normal cell functions and place stress on cells, potentially affecting metabolism and other important biological processes. In this in vitro laboratory study, researchers analyzed the effects of an OPE—triphenyl phosphate (TPhP)—on the development and function of human mesenchymal stem cells (which can develop into bone, cartilage, and fat cells). They found that TPhP may disrupt the balance between bone formation and fat metabolism, potentially promoting fat accumulation within bone-forming tissues. Ultimately, TPhP may affect the biological pathways involved in various health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.
- Impact of Tongue Exercise on Hypoglossal Axis Survival, Structure, and Output in a Rodent Model of Hypoglossal Motor Neuron Degeneration
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of neuromuscular (communication between nerves and muscles) disorders caused by the progressive loss of motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells that control such important activities as breathing and swallowing. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in patients with MNDs, and OSA may aid the progression of MNDs. Using a 3- to 4-month-old male rat model for MND—and CTB-SAP injections to mimic motor neuron loss in OSA—researchers studied whether high-repetition, low-resistance tongue exercises protected against motor neuron degeneration. Results showed that the tongue exercises increased microglia (an immune cell of the nervous system) density and reduced deficits in nerve outputs. These findings highlight the potential use of tongue exercises to improve functional outcomes in patients with OSA and MND.
- Senescence-Associated Gene Pathways Are Differentially Expressed in Equine Aging-Related Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that causes chronic pain and stiffness. Senescence (cells that no longer divide into new cells) is associated with aging and considered a key factor in OA disease development. In this study, researchers determined whether senescence genes were more active in OA synovial fluid (joint fluid) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Using a 1- to 25-year-old equine model for OA (sex not stated), researchers found senescence gene expression that was unique to specific cell types, and immune cells displayed increased expression of senescence genes linked to inflammation and stress. Results showed that joint cells displayed higher expression of certain genes—including AHR, IL1RN, HMOX1, and TIMP1—that were decreased in PBMCs. These findings suggest that senescence is increased in OA joints and that therapies that target senescent cells may help treat OA.
Read more in the archive.
