W elcome to Insight Welcome to the Fall 2003 edition of Insight. In this edition we introduce you to the fi ve new members of the College’s leadership team: Drs. David Lee, Paul Lunn, Barbara Volume 30 Number 2 Sanborn, Jeffrey Wilusz, and John Zimbrick. They bring with them valued wisdom and Fall 2003 experience as the College moves into a new era of scientifi c endeavor, teaching, and outreach. We welcome them and wish them the best of luck in their new positions. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about the College’s research pro- grams and new grant projects that will enable further investigations into important global diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, leprosy, and prion-related diseases. The emphasis in this edition of Insight is on the College’s biomedical research programs and how they relate to the overall mission of the College. We also honor several faculty members who recently have received prestigious awards for their work in teaching and research. These honors and awards refl ect the overall excellence of the faculty at the College, and we congratulate the recipients – Drs. CCollegeollege ofof VVeterinaryeterinary MedicineMedicine Ray Whalen, John Belisle, and Edward Dudek – on their achievements. aandnd BiomedicalBiomedical SSciencesciences We welcome your questions and comments on Insight and its contents. If you’d like to get in touch with us, please send your correspondence to: Insight Correspondence Offi ce of the Dean W102 Anatomy/Zoology College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Cover photo: Colorado State University Students take advantage of new Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601 hardware and software in the College’s You can e-mail Insight comments to Paul Maffey, Director of Development for the Anatomy Laboratory to enhance their College, at [email protected]. We also invite you to visit us at our Web site studies. The new technologies are at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu. ■ designed to complement traditional methods of teaching anatomy – dissection and textbook readings and renderings – while giving students improved tools to aid in the study and retention of anatomical course work. T able of Contents Insight is published two times per year by the College Message from the Dean ...... 3 of Veterinary Medicine and Virtual Reality Goes to the Dogs in Anatomy Lab ...... 4 Biomedical Sciences, Colorado New Leadership Team Set to Continue College’s Tradition of Excellence ...... 6 State University, and produced by Publications and Printing. Biomedical Research Programs Set CVMBS Apart ...... 9 Editor/Writer: Carol Borchert; Research Update ...... 10 Photographers: Charlie Kerlee, Colorado State, City of Hope Researchers Use Phenomenon of RNA Interference to Bill Cotton; Improve Resistance to HIV Infection in Human Cells ...... 13 Production: Sandy Thode; CVMBS Faculty Members Receive Honors ...... 15 Production Coordinator: Class Agent Survey Shows Strong Support for Veterinary School...... 15 Margaret Taunt. Visit us on the Web at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu

2 M essage from the Dean

Dear Friends, effective vaccine and treat- During the past year, we have wit- ment programs. You can read nessed a variety of new and old diseases more about this program and coming to the fore, including Severe get an update on other innova- Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), tive research enterprises in a West Nile virus, and monkey pox. These, related story looking at some combined with previously existing dis- current research at the College ease threats, make us very aware of the (see page 10). continuing danger infectious diseases The College also is home pose to human populations worldwide, to an innovative HIV research including here in the United States, program that is looking at where we sometimes can feel removed changing stem cells to make from the diseases that threaten the rest the body’s immune system of the planet. resistant to HIV infection (see At the College of Veterinary Medicine related story on page 13). and Biomedical Sciences, we are heavily HIV/AIDS remains a pandemic invested in research programs that of most frightening propor- address the diseases posing the greatest tions. Worldwide, 65 million Dr. Lance Perryman threat to humankind today – tuberculo- people are HIV-positive. United sis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, arthropod-borne Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that has been shown to give macaque mon- infectious diseases, and more. Our there are 5 million new cases of HIV keys protection from Ebola after one newer studies in prion-based diseases each year. In 2002 alone, approximately injection. Scientists from the Vaccine are beginning to answer questions that 3.1 million people died of HIV/AIDS. Research Center of the National Institute fi ve years ago hadn’t even been asked. When President Bush visited Africa this of Allergy and Infectious Diseases believe We are active in West Nile research and summer, we saw the face of AIDS on our the vaccine will be safe and effective in vaccine development. Although we are televisions. The United States has com- humans as well, offering immunity in as most well-known for our work in veteri- mitted $15 billion over the next fi ve years little as four weeks after vaccination. nary medical research, our biomedical to fi ght AIDS in Africa. It will help, but Breakthroughs such as this do not programs are actually the larger of our our battle is just beginning. happen easily. Science must develop two areas of expertise. What is perhaps At the College, we also house the understanding to the point at which such unique to this College is how our dual Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Dis- an event is possible. This only happens focus – veterinary medicine and bio- eases Laboratory (AIDL). As West Nile through persistence, years of research, medical sciences – enhances the quality virus once again took over headlines this basic and applied scientifi c studies, and of both programs by bringing together summer, we were reminded of the intri- a bit of luck. At the College of Veterinary experts and resources which, when cate relationship between humans and Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, we combined, are able to fi ght enemies of the mosquitoes with which they share the are proud to be a part of the global sci- the body with the powers of the mind. earth. Researchers at AIDL not only study entifi c community that is bringing hope The College is home to the Myco- diseases transmitted by arthropods, they to people the world over in the form of bacterium Research Laboratory, which also study the arthropods themselves to improved medicine, better vaccines, and has carved a global niche for itself as see if they can unlock a door that one lives fi lled with joy instead of suffering. a center of excellence in tuberculosis day will lead them to alter mosquitoes As supporters of the College, each of you and leprosy research. In 2003, tuber- so they are not capable of spreading is a part of that as well. ■ culosis claimed the lives of two million disease. people. Worldwide, two billion people It seems at times that the diseases Best Regards, are infected with the bacterium that are getting ahead of us and we can do causes tuberculosis. Researchers at the little to stop the death and destruction laboratory are working at many levels that comes in the wake of a major out- to understand M. tuberculosis, assay- break, but we are making progress. In Lance Perryman, D.V.M., Ph.D. ing drugs used in the treatment of TB, August, scientists announced they had Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and collaborating with scientists from developed a high-speed vaccine for and Biomedical Sciences around the world to develop more the dreaded Ebola virus. The vaccine

3 V irtual Reality Goes to the Dogs in Anatomy Lab The study of anatomy always has tional materials like posed a unique set of problems for stu- plastinated organs,” dent and teacher alike. Two-dimensional said Dr. Ray Whalen, a images can hardly reveal the complexity Professor in the Depart- of anatomical structure, while carting ment of Biomedical Sci- around dissected specimens for review ences and technology of material is hardly sanitary or desir- coordinator for the able. At the College’s Anatomy Labora- Anatomy Laboratory. tory, students now have a third option “Dissections are the – the use of virtual anatomy on portable best way to learn anat- software that enables students to review omy, but once you’re anatomy in a three-dimensional environ- done, it’s not easy to ment. reproduce the material. Virtual anatomy is part of an over- If you forget something all program to bring technology into from a dissection, it’s the Anatomy Laboratory – technology diffi cult to regain that that creates an innovative and effective knowledge.” learning environment in which students Dr. Whalen and are better able to discern anatomical a team of veterinary structures, commit details of anatomy students began to work The virtual canine software allows students to view images of to memory, and retrieve information for on a software program canine anatomy in three-dimensional, multilayered detail. review at their convenience. to make a “virtual “In anatomy, we have had the text- canine” to aid students in their study of prepares students for their laboratories, book and written guides, work in labora- canine anatomy. The result of their work guides them through classroom activi- tories, dissections, and a few other func- is an interactive software program that ties, and provides a review of material

Dr. Mark Frasier, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, helps students working on their anatomy studies. New computers and software make teaching and learning anatomy more effi cient and effective.

4 for animal cadavers for anatomy from the Department of Biomedical “Dissections are the best way laboratories at Colorado State Sciences, the Offi ce of the Dean, and and other research institutions. funding from the Colorado Commission to learn anatomy, but once It will become one more tool on Higher Education, Dr. Whalen has to support the College’s 3-Rs been able to make part of his dream a you’re done, it’s not easy to policy of reduce, replace, and reality in the last 10 years. He is hoping refi ne regarding the use of ani- additional private funding may help him reproduce the material. If mals in teaching and research. complete the canine anatomy software Dr. Whalen eventually hopes to and equine software, as well as continue you forget something from license the software and make upgrades in the anatomy laboratory. the software development pro- “We would love to fi nd some private a dissection, it’s diffi cult to gram self-sustaining. support for our software development as In addition to the new imag- well as the continued upgrading of the regain that knowledge.” ing software, the students in anat- Anatomy Laboratory,” said Dr. Whalen. omy are benefi ting from a high- “With additional funding, we really could after laboratories so students can get tech retrofi tting of the physical facility make rapid progress on our objectives a good grasp on the material they have itself. The laboratory now provides a for a ‘virtual’ laboratory.” covered. specialized computer workstation at If you are interested in supporting The virtual canine allows students each anatomy station to supplement the work of Dr. Whalen, contact Paul to view images of canine anatomy, spe- teaching with computer models and Maffey, Director of Development for the cifi cally anatomy of the head, in three- streaming video. For example, students College. A special fund has been created dimensional detail. Using the program, will be able to watch a surgery in prog- to provide funding and support to Dr. they can rotate images on their computer ress at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Whalen’s efforts in software development screen and peel away layers of virtual and relate it to what they are studying in and technology investment. You can skin, muscle, and fat to reveal hidden anatomy. Distance learning, especially reach Maffey at (970) 491-3932, e-mail structures and bone. Dr. Whalen said with continuing education courses, also at [email protected], or students love the new software, the only is possible with the communications and visit the Development Offi ce’s Web page complaint being that they would like to video links provided at the laboratory. at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu. ■ have additional software titles available “Our new technology enables us to featuring the remainder of the canine open up our venue,” anatomy and other animals studied in said Dr. Whalen. “We the anatomy labs. no longer are con- “The process of digitizing ana- tained in just this build- tomical subjects is very time and labor ing. That means we can intensive, and right now, time and money provide education and are our two primary constraints to outreach on a larger developing additional software,” said Dr. scale, incorporate dis- Whalen. “Our goal is to fi nish the canine tance learning into our model and then get started on an equine curriculum, and pro- model as those constraints allow. I would vide support to students add that it has been one of the highlights even after they have left of my career to work with these veteri- the University.” nary students in the development of this Incorporating this software. They are so enthusiastic about type of technology into this work and have such a level of dedi- the teaching of anatomy cation and professionalism that I have has been Dr. Whalen’s really enjoyed the whole process and I’m dream for the past very proud of what they have been able 20 years. Pulling the to contribute and achieve.” money and resources One added feature of the software together has been diffi - Dr. Ray Whalen makes a fi ne point in the Gross Anatomy Laboratory. is that, over time, it may reduce the need cult, but with assistance

5 N ew Leadership Team Set to Continue College’s Tradition of Excellence

to where we need to be. A balanced approach, looking at the internal and external stakeholders’ perspectives, is key to making our constituents happy.” One of Dr. Lee’s fi rst objectives as director is to improve and update the hospital’s internal processes, including moving from paper patient records to electronic records that can track care and be available throughout the hospital to faculty and students via PDAs or laptop computers. The goal is to have a paper- less and wireless hospital, so everyone Drs. Jeffrey Wilusz, John Zimbrick, Barbara Sanborn, David Lee, and Paul Lunn. can communicate with ease, and patient records are updated real-time. Dr. Lee The past two years have seen many Veterinary Medicine’s External Affairs would like to tap the College’s alumni changes at the College of Veterinary and Marketing and previously Executive base to support the College through Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Director of Strategic Planning and Busi- development efforts and work within The College’s departmental structure ness Development. the 25-year plan to continue to improve was dramatically altered, Dr. James L. “Cornell always has been an impor- hospital facilities. He also would like to Voss retired as dean and was replaced tant part of my life – in my immediate undertake a survey of hospital customers by Dr. Lance Perryman, administrative family, we probably have 10 degrees to get a better idea of attitudes toward, positions were shuffl ed, and fi ve new from Cornell – but in the last few years, and feelings about, the hospital. individuals were brought on board to I have been looking for a change,” said head up the four new departments and Dr. Lee. “There were only a handful of Dr. D. Paul Lunn the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching schools I would have considered, and Department of Clinical Hospital. Colorado State was one of them. The Sciences The new leadership team is now in Veterinary Teaching Hospital is rich with Though a native of place on campus, and proper introduc- tradition but also has a very dynamic and Great Britain, Dr. Lunn tions are in order. invigorating atmosphere, and has spent most of his I am excited to be here.” professional career in Dr. David Lee Dr. Lee’s own research the United States, where Director, James L. Voss interests focus on organiza- he has enjoyed the Veterinary Teaching Hospital tional behavior and how to research and teaching Dr. D. Paul Lunn In the U.S. News motivate people, as well as opportunities afforded and World Report practice management, and him particularly in equine medicine. Dr. college rankings, Colo- he hopes to help not only Lunn joined the College on Aug. 15 as rado State University’s the hospital improve its busi- head of the Department of Clinical Sci- Professional Veterinary ness workings but also teach ences, coming to the College from the Medical Program is Dr. David Lee courses in practice manage- University of Wisconsin-Madison School ranked second only to ment to students in the Pro- of Veterinary Medicine, where he served Cornell University. The new director of fessional Veterinary Medical Program. as Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs the Veterinary Teaching Hospital could “The hospital is a very customer and Director of the Veterinary Medical help change that, as he defi nitely has the service-focused organization,” said Teaching Hospital. insider’s track on what is happening at Dr. Lee. “But we have many customers “We loved the idea of living in Colo- Cornell and how the College might beat including our clients, patients, students, rado, and after my previous position as them next year. Dr. David Lee received veterinarians, alumni, and the state of a hospital director, I wanted a position his Bachelor of Science, D.V.M., and Colorado. We need to understand and in departmental administration with the M.B.A. from Cornell and had worked meet the special needs of each of these opportunities it afforded for working since 1996 at Cornell where he was customers, realizing that just focusing closely with faculty,” said Dr. Lunn. “This Executive Director of the College of on the fi nancial aspects won’t get us is a very exciting position, and I am look-

6 ing forward to helping the faculty meet programs. As new head of the Depart- “I moved my two NIH grants here their goals and the goals of the Depart- ment of Biomedical Sciences, she’ll with me and now have my laboratory set ment.” draw from her Texas experience where, up in the Animal Reproduction and Bio- Dr. Lunn is especially interested in among other things, she ran a busy technology Laboratory at the Foothills growing the Department’s programs in research program, served as Vice-Chair Campus,” said Dr. Sanborn. “In addi- basic, applied, and clinical research. of the Department of Biochemistry, and tion to my research and administration His own research interests are in large was director of an NIH Training Grant duties, I also am interested in keeping a animal medicine with a focus on equine and Research Director in the Offi ce of hand in teaching and working with our immunology and infectious disease. Women’s Health, University of Texas graduate students.” “Although my focus here primarily Health Science Center Women’s Health Dr. Sanborn has several priorities as will be my administrative responsi- Initiative. She also served as President new head of the Department of Biomedi- bilities, I am looking forward to bringing of the Society for the Study of Reproduc- cal Sciences. She would like to complete my research program to Colorado and to tion. the integration of the Department and the new collaborative opportunities that “I was looking for an administrative create a greater sense of collegiality as will result,” said Dr. Lunn. “I also love challenge and a department with growth well as an integrated approach to gradu- to teach and hope to participate in the potential and found both here at Colo- ate education. Dr. Sanborn is committed classroom whenever possible.” rado State,” said Dr. Sanborn. “We have to enhancing career development oppor- Dr. Lunn received his B.V.Sc. from robust reproduction biology and neuro- tunities for faculty and to developing a the University of Liverpool in Great biology groups here and a strong core of clear plan for future growth, including Britain in 1982 and then completed an people who are interested in ion channel planning for a new basic sciences build- internship in Large Animal Medicine and physiology and biochemistry.” ing. The Department is actively recruiting Surgery at Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Sanborn received her Ph.D. new faculty members for open positions After a two-year period in general prac- from Boston University. From early in to complement an already nationally rec- tice, Dr. Lunn completed a three-year her career, she has been interested in ognized research and Large Animal Medicine Residency and reproductive hormone actions and how teaching program. M.S. degree program at the University hormones work at the molecular level. of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1991, he Her work looks at signaling mechanisms Dr. Jeffrey Wilusz completed his Ph.D. work at the Uni- and how these signals affect the biology Department of Microbiology, versity of Cambridge, Great Britain. He of the cell. As her research progressed, Immunology and Pathology is a Diplomate, 1992, of the American she became more involved in women’s Dr. Jeffrey Wilusz College of Veterinary Internal Medicine health research and educational out- took over as head of the and a member of the Royal College of reach for both the lay public and medi- Department of Microbi- Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Lunn joined the cal professionals. At the University of ology, Immunology and University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty Texas Medical School at Houston, Dr. Pathology on Aug. 1. Dr. Dr. Jeffrey Wilusz in 1991 as an Assistant Professor in the Sanborn held a primary appointment Wilusz came to Colo- Department of Medical Sciences, School in the Department of Biochemistry and rado State University from the University of Veterinary Medicine. Molecular Biology and a joint appoint- of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey- ment in the Department of New Jersey Medical School, where he Dr. Barbara Sanborn Obstetrics, Gynecology and was a Professor in the Department of Department of Biomedical Reproductive Sciences. She Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Sciences had a very active research as well as that Department’s Vice Chair, Dr. Sanborn comes program, part of which and was Assistant Dean for the medical to Colorado State Univer- she has moved to Colorado school’s M.D./Ph.D. program. sity from the University of State. In addition to her Dr. Wilusz said his fi rst task is to Texas Medical School in administrative duties, Dr. learn the workings of the Department in Houston, where her career Sanborn will continue as a order to clearly understand its missions focused on molecular researcher, something she in teaching, research, and outreach. aspects of hormone action Dr. Barbara Sanborn feels gives her the ability From there, he has a number of topics of in the reproductive system to relate to the challenges particular interest. and the development of women’s health facing faculty within her department. “I’m interested in developing new collaborative research projects,” said

7 N ew Leadership Team Set to Continue College’s Tradition of Excellence continued from page 7 Dr. Wilusz. “We have so many talented RNA elements involved in “We have started the people within the Department, I think mRNA stability, polyadenyl- process leading to accredi- that wherever we aim our efforts we ation signal recognition, tation of the health physics will be successful. Of course, in order and regulated messenger program,” Dr. Zimbrick to be successful, we have to make sure RNA-protein complexes. said. “We feel this will be a we have the equipment, resources, and very positive development personnel to get the job done, and that Dr. John Zimbrick for the Department, as this also will be a priority for my offi ce.” Department of Environmental and degree is in high demand On the teaching side, Dr. Wilusz Radiological Health Sciences across the country, and just would like to see an increase in the Dr. John Zimbrick Dr. John Zimbrick a handful of programs are undergraduate research presence and comes to the College from available to meet industry the introduction of more technology into Purdue University where he was a Pro- and government requests for graduates courses so that teachers can teach and fessor of Health Sciences and member with degrees in health physics.” students can learn more effi ciently and of the Purdue Cancer Center. Although On the research side, Dr. Zimbrick effectively. He also wants to make sure he had not planned on leaving Purdue, currently has a National Institutes of that the Department is teaching the most the opportunity to come to Colorado and Health grant focusing on spatial prop- up-to-date material possible. lead the nation’s only combined envi- erties of radiation-produced clusters of “In a way, we need to work back- ronmental health/radiological health damage in DNA. He also would like the wards,” Dr. Wilusz said. “We need to program was too tempting to pass up. Department to partner with the Animal understand what our students need to “When this job came up, it certainly Cancer Center in studies with specifi c know when they graduate four years got my attention,” said Dr. Zimbrick. “I interest in the use of the MRI, par- from now. The question we need to ask looked at the description and realized ticularly using new magnetic resonance ourselves is what do our students need that this Department was unique in the techniques to enhance images of tumors and how do we get there?” United States. It is the only department and study tumor metabolism. Dr. Wilusz said he is looking forward that combines toxicology, epidemiology, “There is so much we can do here to the challenges of being a department industrial hygiene, radiation and cancer with the resources we have,” said Dr. head. He enjoys working with people biology, and health physics. The Depart- Zimbrick. “I would really like to see us and the organizational work of being an ment’s broad spectrum has a common take this Department up to the next level administrator. He also hopes to keep a theme of health effects of various physi- and make it preeminent in the fi elds of hand in teaching, something for which cal, chemical, and biological agents, and environmental and radiological health he has received numerous awards, as there is not another place like it. We are sciences. I think that we can provide well as oversee an active research pro- in a position to do things as a Depart- education and leadership in these areas gram. He has moved his own laboratory ment that just can’t be done anywhere for the country and the world.” to Colorado State University from New else, and I am very excited about that.” Dr. Zimbrick attended the University Jersey, along with fi ve people who had As he familiarizes himself with the of Kansas, where he received his master’s worked in his laboratory and two grants Department, Dr. Zimbrick already has and Ph.D. in radiation biophysics. He from the National Institutes of Health. developed objectives. Initially, he would was a member of the faculty there from Dr. Wilusz is a graduate of Rutgers like to bring faculty and staff together 1969 until 1984 and also served as chair University (Cook College) in New Jersey, with a shared vision of the Department. of the Radiation Biophysics Department. where he received a Bachelor of Sci- He also would like to start a Depart- After KU, Dr. Zimbrick was a scientifi c ence degree in animal sciences. He ment-wide research initiative to examine review administrator with NIH and received his Ph.D. in molecular virol- the effects of combined exposures to then joined Battelle-Pacifi c Northwest ogy from Duke University and received radiation and secondary agents on living Laboratory, where he was Chair of the postdoctoral training at Princeton systems. Dr. Zimbrick would like to Biology and Chemistry Department and University, Department of Biology. His complete the work required to establish held a joint appointment at Washington major research interests revolve around undergraduate programs in health phys- State University. He then became Direc- the control of gene expression at the ics (also known as radiological health) tor of the Board on Radiation Effects post-transcriptional level. These areas and industrial hygiene. He also would Research of the National Academy of Sci- include a biochemical and molecular like to update the Department’s Web ences before joining Purdue University ■ description of mechanisms, factors, and page and try to enhance alumni giving to in 1997. departmental scholarships.

8 B iomedical Research Programs Set CVMBS Apart

When most people think of the years ago, the College decided to focus College’s resources for the foreseeable College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio- its efforts in fi ve areas of the biomedical future, but efforts also are being put into medical Sciences, they tend to focus on sciences to compete more effectively for developing new programs, including a the veterinary medicine part. The College extramural funds. These areas included joint research and teaching program in is, after all, home to the James L. Voss cancer biology, neuroscience, infec- orthopaedics with the College of Engi- Veterinary Teaching Hospital and world- tious disease, environmental toxicology, neering, focusing primarily on humans renowned research and treatment pro- and animal reproduction. Each of these and horses. Two other areas of emphasis grams in animal cancer, equine ortho- programs now is designated a University are the scientifi c fi elds of proteomics paedics, veterinary cardiology, critical Program of Research and Scholarly and genomics. care, and more. But it is the biomedical Excellence (PRSE), fi ve of the 14 so des- In the coming decade, Dr. Nett also sciences, that last bit dangling onto the ignated programs at the University. wants to keep the College at the forefront College’s name, which truly makes the In 2002/2003 the College received of what he says will be some dramatic College a unique place to study, teach, almost $50 million in external funding changes in biomedical research. and conduct research. for these and other research programs “Technological innovation will The College was the College of Vet- at the College, with 85 percent of that enhance our ability to understand how erinary Medicine until 1967, when the coming from the federal government, organisms function,” said Dr. Nett. “We offi cial name was changed to the College mainly the National Institutes of Health, will see dramatic advances in structural of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical the National Science Foundation, the biology, specifi cally three-dimensional Sciences. During Dr. Rue Jensen’s tenure Department of Agriculture, and the images of molecules that allow us to see as dean, from 1957-1966, the College Department of Defense. The Homeland how molecules interact with each other. actively was investing its resources in Security Act, established in response This will allow us to better research the biomedical sciences. This was in part to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and maybe even remedy diseases like to offset declines in state funding with dramatically increased funding for Alzheimer’s and cystic fi brosis that are greater federal dollars, in part to offer infectious disease research. While this based on interactions between molecu- greater research and teaching opportu- is good for the College’s program in lar structures.” nities to non-D.V.M. faculty, and in part infectious disease, it could make funding Another area Dr. Nett sees as criti- to give the College a strong position in a more diffi cult to obtain for other areas cal to biomedical sciences is continued number of growing and dynamic fi elds, of research. public support and public education – including environmental health. “The challenge will be maintaining education that should begin in grammar “The development of the biomedi- the breadth of biomedical research we school. cal sciences is a good example of the currently enjoy,” said Dr. Terry Nett, “We need to do a better job of advantage that existed for the University Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences instilling a sense of wonder in children in having a strong program in veterinary with the College. “With the Homeland when it comes to the scientifi c world,” medicine and in having an opportu- Security Act, the dollars are changing. said Dr. Nett. “I don’t think we do a very nity with increased federal funding to The fi nite pool of funds available from good job of educating the public about develop an interest in the biomedical the federal government is being shifted what it is we do. A number of scientifi c sciences,” said Dr. Robert Phemister, from general biomedical research into organizations are beginning to tackle former Dean of the College, in a 1982 biodefense. That means that the fund- this problem with programs directed at interview. “Building on the faculty and ing for some other areas will suffer. We educating our youth about the sciences the reputation of the College, the Univer- haven’t seen the true impact yet because and fi elds in scientifi c discovery and sity did a smart thing to capitalize on it most research grants run two to fi ve educating adults about the importance of and make it become a further strength years, but in the next two to three years, science in everyday life. If you look at the for the University. The biomedical-veteri- we will begin to see the impact of these television show CSI, this is one example nary medicine combination is virtually changes. Our goal will be to maintain of how education about science – unique among veterinary fi elds.” our diversity and strengths with tight- though perhaps not intentionally – is Biomedical sciences describes the ening dollars. A part of that is striving taking place in an effective and interest- interface between biology and medicine. to maintain and recruit the best faculty ing way. But scientists need to be doing It is a huge fi eld that allows individuals at available so that we have the best people so much more if we want to maintain the College to participate not only in vet- competing for those limited funds.” support from the populous and continue erinary medical research but in human The College’s fi ve PRSEs will con- to attract the best and the brightest to medical research, as well. Nearly 20 tinue to receive emphasis in terms of the scientifi c professions.” ■

9 R esearch Update Microbiology Team Receives With this current award, Dr. Bren- pathogenesis, transmission, and inter- nan and colleagues have set a goal of vention of CWD.” $7 Million to Develop Early Test one new early-testing tool per year of The team also will focus on detect- for Leprosy the seven-year grant. The team already is ing the CWD prion in body fl uids and A team of nine Colorado State applying new tests to leprosy patients in excretions of deer since, as Dr. Hoover microbiologists, led by University Dis- clinical trials in Katmandu, Nepal. explained, one of the most interesting tinguished Professor Patrick Brennan, and important aspects of the has been awarded two grants from the Prion Research disease is how the infection is National Institutes of Laboratory Awarded transmitted among deer. Health to develop early Chronic wasting disease tests for leprosy based $8.4 Million to was fi rst detected in the late on the recently com- Study CWD 1960s and is endemic in pleted genome of the The National Insti- free-ranging deer and elk bacterium responsible tutes of Health recently in northeastern Colorado for the disease. awarded an $8.4 mil- and southeastern Wyoming. The Colorado State lion grant to the Col- More recently, the disease team, which received a lege’s Prion Research Dr. Edward Hoover has emerged as a threat to total of $7 million, is Laboratory to study ranched elk in several west- Dr. Patrick Brennan working with four inter- chronic wasting disease (CWD), includ- ern states and has been found national centers – in ing its mode of transmission, the poten- in the Midwest in areas of Wisconsin. Katmandu, Nepal; Cebu, Philippines; Rio tial for interspecies transmission, and a It is one form of a group of fatal brain de Janeiro, Brazil; and Medellin, Colom- possible vaccine against the disease. diseases called transmissible spongi- bia – areas of the world where leprosy is The research study will focus on form encephalopathies, or TSEs, which still endemic. four major objectives: assess how CWD include bovine spongiform encepha- Currently, there are no pre-clini- is transmitted among deer, develop lopathy in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob cal tests for leprosy. Diagnosis is based a transgenic mouse model for CWD, disease in humans. To date, there is no on physical examination for infected evaluate the potential for interspecies evidence that CWD is transmissible to patches on the skin. Thanks to a suc- transmission of CWD, and test potential humans. cessful application of multi-drug therapy, strategies for a CWD vaccine. however, those diagnosed with leprosy Dr. Edward Hoover, a Colorado Research May Help can control the disease. State University Distinguished Professor Decrease Number of One of the few basic research pro- and director of the laboratory, acknowl- grams on leprosy worldwide has been edged that the objectives of the research Serious Infections in located at Colorado State University since are very ambitious but that he and his Medical Patients 1980 in the Mycobacterium Research collaborators are looking forward to the A collaborative Laboratory. The laboratory, which also challenge. research project con- works to a large extent on the related “Progress in the study of this ducted by a Colorado disease of tuberculosis, is part of the disease has been diffi cult because the State University veteri- Dr. William Dernell College’s Department of Microbiology, causative agent is a protein rather than narian and two Boulder Immunology and Pathology. a nucleic acid-containing agent,” Dr. scientists with Rose Biomedical may lead Dr. Brennan’s research team con- Hoover said. “Therefore, we can’t use to new medical technology for reducing tributed to the discovery of the bacterial the kind of technology we use to detect the number of serious infections suffered factors responsible for leprosy and the and understand viruses and bacteria. each year by millions of both animal and factors that can be used in an early diag- “Additionally, the incubation period human patients. nosis of the disease. For this discovery, is quite long – probably two to six years Dr. William Dernell, an Associate Dr. Brennan’s team was awarded an in nature. For this reason, we are work- Professor in the Department of Clini- earlier grant from the National Institutes ing with Dr. Glenn Telling at the Univer- cal Sciences, and Drs. Steve Frank and of Health. sity of Kentucky to develop a transgenic Ammon Balaster, scientists working with mouse model to more easily study the Rose Biomedical in Denver, have the fi rst

10 study underway using a rat model. The and offers a direct comparison of effec- includes an illustrious project will test the effi cacy of a new tiveness. roster of internationally antimicrobial treatment for serious, Dr. Dernell and his associates have recognized research- established infections that are the result applied for a grant from the National ers and AIDL faculty, of major surgery or long-term medical Institutes of Health to pursue additional including Drs. William treatment. pre-clinical studies at Colorado State Black, Richard Bowen, If successful in the initial study, the and, eventually, develop a treatment Charles Calisher, Jon technology will be further tested at the application that can improve the quality Carlson, Joel Hutcheson College’s Animal Cancer Center to assess and reduce the cost of health care. and the director of how well it works in reducing infections AIDL, Ken Olson. Dr. Carol Blair in dogs that have undergone CDC Awards Training The more than 30 limb spare surgery to remove Grant in Vector-Borne researchers at the Arthropod-Borne and and replace cancerous Infectious Diseases Laboratory at Colo- bones. Diseases to AIDL rado State concentrate on the preven- “To prolong their lives, The Centers for tion, diagnosis, and control of mosquito- dogs with bone cancer often Disease Control and borne encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue, require the removal of the Prevention has awarded Hantaviruses, parasitic diseases, and cancerous bone and use of a Fellowship Training Lyme disease. Researchers at AIDL regu- a replacement rod,” said Program grant to the larly collaborate with researchers at the Dr. Dernell. “Unfortunately, College’s Arthropod- Fort Collins laboratory of the Centers for about 50 percent of these Dr. Barry Beaty Borne and Infectious Disease Control and Prevention – Divi- dogs suffer postsurgical leg Diseases Laboratory. sion of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases; infections, for which systemic The grant provides and the U.S. Department of Agriculture antibiotics may have limited effective- almost $250,000 per year for fi ve years – Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases ness. In human cancer patients, the rate to train graduate students in medical Research Laboratory in Laramie, Wyo., is between 20 and 25 percent.” entomology, arbovirology, microbiology, which provides an unparalleled training Dr. Dernell explained that, in these and vector-borne diseases. The ultimate experience in vector-borne diseases for cases, most of the infections are deep in purpose of this funding is to improve the the students at Colorado State University. the tissues and are of mixed origin. Addi- ability of the U.S. public health system The CDC grants are part of the tionally, most dogs that have undergone to effectively respond to the problem “Healthy People 2010” initiative, which cancer surgery already have been treated of vector-borne infectious diseases by is designed to make dramatic progress with a course of antibiotics while under- increasing the number of specialists in improving the health of America’s going chemotherapy. “So there is already with demonstrated fi eld- and laboratory- population over the next 10 years. something of a resistance to some antibi- based skills. otics,” Dr. Dernell added. “We’re very grateful to the CDC for Mycobacterium Researchers Receive The new method for treating these this award. Being selected for one of $3 Million Grant to Study TB hardy, persistent infections involves these grants says quite a lot about the driving the antibiotics deeper into the quality of our research, our facilities, Vaccines affected tissues so that they can attack and our scientists,” said Dr. Barry Beaty, Drs. Ian Orme and Randy Basaraba the bacteria more directly. University Distinguished Professor and in the Department of Microbiology, Dr. Frank, who has spent years former head of the AIDL at Colorado Immunology and Pathology have been perfecting the technology, believes this State. ‘This award complements the awarded a fi ve-year, $3 million grant new method will revolutionize this type funding we just received from NIH to from the National Institutes of Health to of medical treatment. form, in partnership with the University conduct a pioneering study to examine The rat study model currently being of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, an the long-term effectiveness and safety of used in this project simulates a previ- Emerging Virus Disease Unit and dem- tuberculosis vaccines. The scientists are ous study conducted by Dr. Dernell. In onstrates the importance of this kind of determining if the most promising new that test, antibiotic polymer beads were research.” vaccines – those proven successful in evaluated as a treatment for resistant Dr. Carol Blair, former chair of the short-term studies – can remain effec- infections. That study provided a very Department of Microbiology, is co-pro- tive over the long term and if specifi c rigorous test model for antimicrobials gram director on the grant, which also vaccines actually could be damaging to

11 R esearch Update continued from page 11 the lungs over time. The team is striving the world-renowned Mycobacterium • The most common clinical sign to provide the fi rst fundamental scientifi c Research Laboratory, which mainly associated with West Nile virus infection information regarding focuses on studies of tuberculosis and identifi ed in the study was an altered gait, pathological changes leprosy. The laboratory’s TB-related including reluctance to move, stumbling, in the lungs induced by work has been supported by more than perceived lameness, and ataxia or weak- tuberculosis vaccina- $50 million in research grants and has ness. tions. led to several breakthroughs in the The complete study report can “This has not been fi eld. be viewed and/or downloaded at ftp:// looked at before and ftp.communications.colostate.edu/ is the next important West Nile Virus Studies Released westnile.doc or from the University’s step in our tuberculo- Researchers at the College have Animal Population Health Institute sis vaccine research. released results from a research proj- Web site at www.cvmbs.colostate. Dr. Ian Orme We know that several ect that summarized the background edu/aphi. tuberculosis vaccines characterization of last year’s In a second seem to be effective in the short term, outbreak of West Nile virus study released in May, but there is not a lot known about how in equids from Colorado and Dr. Traub-Dargatz’s these work at the basic pathology level,” Nebraska. team examined the said Dr. Orme, principal investigator of “The objective of the economic impact of the study. “However, we also are going study was to describe the West Nile virus on the a step further with our research to look equine West Nile virus cases Colorado and Nebraska at the long-term safety and effectiveness in Colorado and Nebraska in equine industries. The of TB vaccines, another area which has order to better understand study showed that the previously received very little attention.” the progression of clinical disease cost equine The safety issue is disease, clinical Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz owners more than currently of great con- signs, and clini- $1.25 million in 2002, cern to the research- cal outcome,” said Dr. Josie and prevention costs for WNV vaccina- ers because of a newly Traub-Dargatz, a Professor tions likely exceeded an additional emerging category of in the Department of Clini- $2.75 million. Colorado reported 378 live vaccines derived cal Sciences and principal and Nebraska 1,100 confi rmed cases of from mutated TB bac- investigator on the project. WNV in equids. teria. This new class of “The study’s results give “To date, no other comprehensive potential vaccines has us a clearer picture of last national or regional estimates of WNV’s great promise but also summer’s outbreak, espe- economic impact on the equine industry may carry big risks. cially in terms of the numbers have been published,” said Dr. Traub- Previous studies have Dr. Randy Basaraba of horses affected that were Dargatz. “Determining the economic provided no long-term unvaccinated or incompletely impact of the disease is important for safety data about these types of vaccines. vaccinated as well as their survival rate.” prioritizing current and future research With more than 8 million verifi able new Study results indicate: as well as management and control cases of tuberculosis each year, there • The estimated case fatality rate efforts.” is an urgent need for more effective for affected horses in Colorado and The study, published by co-authors vaccines. Recent data suggests that the Nebraska was 28.6 percent, similar to from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s current annual death rate of 3.3 million reports from other regions. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Ser- people per year due to the disease may • The age range for equine cases vice, was a cooperative effort among be increasing. Nearly one-third of the was from three months to 35 years. researchers from Colorado State Univer- world’s population, approximately 2 • Only 13 cases in the study were sity, the USDA, Colorado and Nebraska billion people, is believed to be infected fully vaccinated based on current manu- State veterinarians, and the veterinary with TB. facturer recommendations. Of these, the schools at the University of Nebraska The College of Veterinary Medicine survival status of 12 is known and all 12 and the University of Pennsylvania. A and Biomedical Sciences is home to horses lived. complete copy of the report is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cahm/ Equine/wnv-info-sheet.pdf. ■

12 C olorado State, City of Hope Researchers Use Phenomenon of RNA Interference to Improve Resistance to HIV Infection in Human Cells Using what researchers are call- genetically altered with anti-HIV small ing a “powerful tool,” a scientifi c team interfering RNAs. The stem cells then at Colorado State University and City were differentiated into macrophages of Hope Cancer Center in California and T-cells – the primary targets in HIV has successfully created HIV-resistant infection – and these immune system human immune system cells that have cells were shown to express the anti-HIV the promise of leading to new and potent siRNAs introduced into the stem cells. treatments for HIV infection. When challenged with HIV infection, The powerful tool is “small inter- the immune cells showed sustained fering RNA,” or siRNA, and it has the resistance.” potential to change the face not only Researchers showed that geneti- of HIV treatment, but also treatment cally altered stem cells were able to for other illnesses including hepatitis, differentiate into mature T-cells and cancer, and a catalog of genetic diseases. macrophages, that these cells carried Dr. Ramesh Akkina In the Colorado State-City of Hope study, with them the siRNAs that provided resis- published in the July issue of Molecular tance to HIV infection, and that the cells pathway, we could have a negative effect. Therapy, researchers designed a siRNA still were able to fully function as part of It was very exciting for us to see the stem that gave T-cells and macrophages – the the immune system. cells still able to form immune cells and foundation of the human immune system “By genetically altering stem cells still express resistance to HIV,” said Dr. – resistance to HIV infection. with the siRNAs, we hoped the many cells Akkina. “This helps us get one very large The research team, led by Dr. derived from stem cells would carry the step closer to a new way of treating HIV Ramesh Akkina, a Professor in the new genetic information with them and infection and perhaps gives new hope to Department of Microbiology, Immunol- be able to maintain HIV-resistance,” said the millions of people who are living with ogy and Pathology, in collaboration with Dr. Rossi, Chair of the Division of Molec- this disease.” Dr. John Rossi from City of Hope, placed ular Biology at City of Hope’s Beckman In the study, the researchers fi rst genetically engineered anti-HIV siRNAs Research Institute and co-investigator designed an anti-HIV siRNA that would into human blood-forming stem cells. of the study. “We also hoped that the shut down the virus’s ability to replicate. “These studies are the fi rst in which alterations would not negatively affect The gene that was targeted in HIV, known siRNAs were introduced into blood- the ability of the stem cell to differentiate as REV, is essential for HIV replication forming stem cells,” said Dr. Akkina. or of the immune cells to maintain their and also conserved throughout the many “The blood-forming stem cells were function as the body’s fi rst-response different HIV types. The gene encoding medical team.” the anti-HIV siRNA then was inserted into Dr. Akkina noted a virus vector that could carry it into the Researchers showed that genetically that when the collab- stem cell. The virus, called a lentiviral orative research team vector, was derived originally from HIV altered stem cells were able to began work on this but rendered non-pathogenic and safe study, they were not with genetic engineering. Once the differentiate into mature T-cells certain if siRNAs would lentiviral vector was ready with its anti- have a harmful effect on HIV siRNA gene payload, researchers and macrophages, that these cells the stem cells’ ability to delivered it to purifi ed stem cells, called differentiate, a compli- CD34+ cells, which give rise to T-cells carried with them the siRNAs cation that would have and macrophages. increased the diffi culty From there, the stem cells took two that provided resistance to HIV of developing siRNAs for different routes. Some of the stem cells therapeutic purposes. were cultured in a test tube in the pres- infection, and that the cells still “We were putting ence of the appropriate growth factors, a foreign molecule into known as cytokines, which caused the were able to fully function as part of the stem cell and real- stem cells to differentiate and produce ized that at any point mature macrophages that expressed the the immune system. along the differentiation anti-HIV siRNAs. Other stem cells were

13 C olorado State, City of Hope Researchers continued from page 13 RNA has long been secondary in science to DNA, the blueprint of life shaped like a twisting ladder in each cell’s nucleus. RNAs are nucleic acids associated with control of cellular chemical activities, and for years, sci- entists believed that RNA was simply at the beck and call of DNA, assigned to shuffl ing about information from DNA as instructions to make proteins. Extra bits of RNA were thought to be simply excess production by the cell. However, recent studies – studies that some say will reshape the fi eld of biology – have The HIV research team in Dr. Akkina’s lab includes, from left to right, Leila Remling, Dr. Akkina, shown that cells also contain pieces of Joseph Anderson, and Akhil Banerjea. RNA that are not carrying instructions for making proteins. These RNA snippets in injected into mice with severe combined ally produce HIV-resistant macrophages fact seem to play a role in gene regula- immunity defi ciencies and implanted and T-cells, allowing the immune system tion, while defects in small RNAs may be human thymus and liver tissue, known to maintain its health in the face of HIV responsible for the onset of certain dis- as SCID-hu mice. In these animals, the infection.” eases such as Prader-Willi and Fragile X CD34+ cells matured into T-cells as It usually is not HIV that causes Syndrome. Small RNA also may offer new they would in a human environment. death but opportunistic infections insights into infectious agents such as the These animals provided the scientists a that take advantage of the suppressed hepatitis C virus, which has been tough unique and important opportunity to test immune system caused by HIV. Treat- for scientists to decipher. Small RNA also their research on human tissue in a live ment with siRNAs may allow physicians holds hope for cures. animal model. to preserve a patient’s immune system, “We have been looking at gene The macrophages and T-cells thus helping to manage HIV as a lifelong therapy for HIV in our laboratory for the derived from the stem cells showed illness in much the same way as diabetes. past 10 years,” said Dr. Akkina. “These resistance to HIV infection, demonstrat- In addition, at this point, siRNA therapy therapies, using things like gene-silenc- ing that the procedure was effective both seems to be nontoxic as it changes the ing ribozymes, showed effi ciency, but in the test tube and in human cells in stem cells themselves – without a detri- not at the levels we wanted. Last year, we living systems. When the virus hit the mental effect – rather than acting upon started using siRNAs, and they proved to genetically engineered macrophage or the entire body. be much more powerful.” T-cell, it was unable to replicate due to “We now are poised for human This study was funded by the the anti-HIV siRNA with which the cell clinical trials, but I don’t yet see siRNA National Institute of Allergy and Infec- was now armed. as a sole treatment for HIV,” Dr. Akkina tious Diseases of the National Institutes “Using a viral vector to introduce said. “I imagine that if all goes well, it of Health. With the success of the animal the anti-HIV siRNA into the stem cells most likely will be used in conjunction model trial at Colorado State, Drs. means that the cells that manufacture with combination therapy – added to the Akkina and Rossi hope to secure funding immune system cells throughout an regimen, not replacing it. In the future soon for human clinical trials at City of organism’s life now will produce virus though, as more research and clinical Hope, where Dr. Rossi has participated resistant cells that carry a copy of the studies are completed, that may change. in a number of RNA-based gene therapy anti-HIV siRNA,” said Dr. Akkina. “Our Therapies based on siRNAs certainly studies in humans. Other study par- goal is to protect cells that are the main have a lot of potential, and we are very ticipants at Colorado State were Akhil targets for HIV, and that is what siRNA excited about what that might mean for Banerjea and Leila Remling and at City of technology is allowing us to do. Stem the quality of life and longevity of HIV Hope were Ming-Jie Li, Gerhard Bauer, cells are self-renewing and will continu- patients and others who suffer with other and Nan-Sook Lee. ■ long-term illnesses.”

14 C VMBS Faculty Members Receive Honors

Congratulations to faculty members Davis Award for Instructional Innovation Sciences, has received the at the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000, and the College’s Norden Distin- prestigious American Epi- and Biomedical Sciences who have guished Teacher Award in 1986. lepsy Society/Milken Family received numerous honors and awards • Dr. John Belisle, Associate Pro- Foundation Epilepsy Award including: fessor in the Department of Microbiol- for Basic Science Research. • Five professors, known for inno- ogy, Immunology and Pathology, was The award was presented in vative teaching and research at Colorado selected as one of two recipients of the December at the American Dr. Ed Dudek State University, were announced in April prestigious Monfort Professor Award, an Epilepsy Society’s annual as new University Distinguished Teach- award established through a gift from the meeting in Seattle, Wash. The ing Scholars at the Celebrate Colorado Monfort Family Foundation to help the award honors individual pioneers in the State! luncheon. Among them was Dr. University recruit and retain top-qual- fi eld of epilepsy research who advance Lawrence Ray Whalen, a ity faculty. Dr. Belisle, a Colorado State the Society’s and Foundation’s mutual member of the faculty in alumnus, joined the University’s faculty goal of creating and carrying out lasting the Department of Biomedi- in 1999 and is director of the Mycobac- solutions to the challenges facing the 55 cal Sciences. Since joining terium Research Laboratory, one of the million people worldwide with epilepsy. the faculty of the College in University’s most active research facili- Dr. Dudek has spent more than 25 years 1982, Dr. Whalen has estab- ties and an internationally recognized investigating the electrical signals trans- lished a scientifi c research center of tuberculosis research. Dr. mitted between the neurons in the brain Dr. Ray Whalen program with strong Belisle’s progressive investi- that are critical for information process- extramural funding gations of the M. tuberculo- ing. He has focused specifi cally on study- and has developed a career as an sis genome and the proteins ing the mechanisms that synchronize infl uential and creative teacher. of this human pathogen have neurons and the alterations that occur His unique gift for using problem- signifi cantly contributed during seizure activity, especially in based learning and interactive to vaccine and diagnostic individuals who have suffered an injury presentations in working with development for tuber- to the brain, one cause of epilepsy. Cur- undergraduate, graduate, and Dr. John Belisle culosis and defi nition of rently, Dr. Dudek is engaged in work on Professional Veterinary Medical host-pathogen interactions. three inter-related projects, each funded students has brought him distinction in Dr. Belisle is principal or co-principal by an NIH grant. These NIH grants will local, national, and international venues. investigator on four National Institutes of total more than $5 million for the next Dr. Whalen, whose doctorate and D.V.M. Health grants and through his career has four or fi ve years and are focused on are from the University of California- generated nearly $14 million in research “translational research,” research based Davis, received the Innovative Instruc- funds at the University. on animal models of epilepsy that allow tional Methodology Award from the • Dr. Ed Dudek, a Professor in the neuroscientists to design treatments College in 2002, the Provost’s N. Preston the College’s Department of Biomedical that can be further developed for study in humans. ■ C lass Agent Survey Shows Strong Support for Veterinary School

As the College of Veterinary Medi- the representatives from their respective Teaching Hospital. Because most of cine and Biomedical Sciences prepares veterinary classes who act as liaisons the funding for the new facilities will to start a major building campaign to between their class and the College. The come from private donors, the Col- improve and expand the South Campus, survey asked agents to rate their educa- lege was interested in assessing how class agents report they are fi rmly com- tion at Colorado State, as well as rank class agents felt on a number of issues mitted to the College and its desire to the importance of good facilities to good regarding the College; its programs in continue to offer one of the best veteri- education, among other questions. teaching, research, and outreach; and nary medical educations in the country. This fall, the College hopes to begin the impact of existing and planned facili- Recently, the College conducted a fundraising for the 25-year master plan ties. The overall result of the survey was survey of class agents from the classes to develop the College’s South Campus, strong support for expansion, especially of 1940 through 2002. Class agents are including the James L. Voss Veterinary regarding the positive effects these plans

15 Insight College intotheFuture,”in Spring 2003editionof Web siteandreadthearticle,“25-Year PlanTakes lege’s 25-yearmasterplan,youcangototheCollege’s help toshapeourfuture.To learnmoreabouttheCol- agents whotookpartinthesurvey. Your voiceswill nities.” animal care,andallowforgreaterlearningopportu- tal tocreateabettertrainingenvironment,improve the infrastructureofVeterinary Teaching Hospi- South Campusexpansionisdedicatedtoimproving students,” Dr. Perrymansaid.“Theinitialphaseofthe to enrichtheeducationandclinicaltrainingofour key motivationistoenhanceandexpandourcapacity for theCollege. ing andclinicaltrainingshouldremainahighpriority ties andexpansionforresearchareimportant,teach- message frommanyrespondentsthatwhilenewfacili- avenues tosolicitsupportareveryhelpful.” facilities isencouragingandthesuggestionsforother alumni wouldbetosupportthebuildingofnew the College.“TheresponseastohowwillingD.V.M. tion andresearch,”saidDr. LancePerryman,Deanof facilities cansignifi cantly impactthequalityofeduca- unanimous agreementthatthequalityofeducational erinary collegesinthecountry, andthereisalmost the Collegetoretainitsroleasoneoftopvet- provide contactnamesofpotentialdonors. 71 percentbelieveD.V.M. alumniwouldbewillingto provide corporatesponsorcontactinformation;and percent believeD.V.M. alumniwouldbewillingto willing tosupportthebuildingofnewfacilities;62 private funds. education, service,andresearchcanonlycomewith cost ofoperatingtheCollege.Continuedexcellencein Colorado provideslessthan25percentoftheoverall alumni tobeinformedthatfundingfromthestateof of thetopveterinarycollegesincountry. very importantfortheCollegetoretainitsroleasone Colorado StateUniversity. pleased orverywiththeireducationfrom would haveontheteachingandclinicalprograms. continued frompage7 16 C The Collegewouldliketothankalltheclass “In everyaspectofourvisionforthefuture,a Dr. Perrymanalsonotedthattherewasastrong “The responsesindicatethatitisimportantfor • • • • Highlights ofthesurveyinclude: 77 percentbelieveD.V.M. alumniwouldbe 94percentbelieve itisimportantforD.V.M. 89percentbelieveitisextremelyimportantor 90percentofthosesurveyedwereextremely lass Agent Survey lass Agent at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/insight . ■

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