Dr. Mauricio Martins has long been fascinated by the complexity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its relevance to public health. “The virus…is able to overcome the most sophisticated defenses in the immune system,” Dr. Martins explained. As an immunologist, he is interested in developing new ways to harness the immune system to eliminate HIV.

Interactions between humans and companion animals have been shown to produce mental, social, and physiological benefits in children and adults. Therapy dogs, for example, can provide individually tailored support for patients. 

Growing up, Dr. Raquel Salinas did not believe that someone like her could turn a passion for science into a career. It was the classes she encountered at the LBJ Science Academy, a magnet high school in Austin, Texas, that ultimately led her to a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. She then obtained a Master of Science in Biochemistry from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Duke University. Dr.

ORIP grant programs enable veterinarians to participate in biomedical research.