The University of Calgary is 1 of Canada's top 5 research-intense universities, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) has established itself as a leader in veterinary science, now ranked number 33 out of all veterinary schools worldwide.¹ The research programs at UCVM span across the veterinary and comparative biomedical sciences, with areas of strength identified by the faculty's 7 research groups:

• Infection Biology facilitates infectious disease research with a focus on molecular and cellular aspects, including disease pathogenesis, genomics, immunology, and diagnostics (covering viruses, bacteria parasites, and prions).

• Reproduction and Regenerative Medicine brings together experts from veterinary and human medicine and biomedical engineering with research focused on pluripotent stem cells, tissue bioengineering, stem cell bioprocessing, and placental development.

• Wildlife Health and Ecology focuses on wildlife population health with ecological approaches in the areas of wildlife health ecology, parasitology, arctic health, and vector ecology.

• Cattle Health supports the beef and dairy industries by conducting fundamental and applied research and disseminating its research findings to producers and industry stakeholders.

• Clinical and Translational is focused on disease prevention, animal welfare, and applying clinical research to practical use by engaging with the community to address their needs.

• One Health aims to optimize health for humans, animals, and the environment with transdisciplinary approaches to carry out research at the interfaces of the 3 domains.

• Veterinary Education conducts evidence-based research to guide educational best practices including communication skills, service-learning, competence assessment, admissions, clinical skills, and simulation.

The following are some examples of recent research happening at UCVM. Mosquitoes, often overlooked in colder climates, are an important factor in human and veterinary health due to the diseases they transmit, many with no cure. Dr. John Soghigian emphasizes the significant impact of these pests, urging greater attention to their behavior and habitats for disease prevention. His laboratory uses genomic data to better understand mosquito disease transmission, and their work was recently published in Nature Communications.²

Dr. Johnathan Canton and his team are exploring the mysteries of the immune system. His recent research,³ published in Science Immunology, reveals how dendritic cells, which act as “sentinels” of the immune system, process and present fragments of infected cells to other immune cells. By understanding these mechanisms, this discovery has potential to enhance vaccine development, efficacy, and immunotherapies. This research holds promise for significant advancements in both human and animal health.

Johne Disease, caused by the Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) pathogen, is difficult to detect and treat. Dr. Jeroen de Buck's research⁴ led to a significant breakthrough in phage therapy to prevent this disease in dairy cows, with results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The new therapy uses bacteriophages to target MAP bacteria before infection occurs. These phages remain in the calves’ intestines for weeks, providing long-term protection. This preventive approach could revolutionize how we combat bacterial infections in animals, benefiting both animal health and the dairy industry.

Research⁵ conducted by graduate student Abhinaya Venkatesan in Dr. John Gilleard's team, recently published in PLoS Pathogens, identified a new benzimidazole-resistance mutation and showed widespread resistance in canine hookworms in pet dogs across the US. This work has provided the basis of a new molecular diagnostic test and highlighted the need for sustainable drug use in pets. Dr. Gilleard's group also collaborated with University of Toronto colleagues in the discovery of a new family of highly selective anthelmintics, the selectivins, which was published in Nature.⁶

The integration of UCVM researchers with faculties such as Medicine, Engineering, and Science provides a unique environment for comparative medical research, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of animal, human, and environmental health. As an institutional signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, we aim to inspire impact through research, invest in the future with transdisciplinary training programs, and create a better future.