Dear VMD-PhD Alumni,

This has been an amazing year for the VMD-PhD program at Penn. We had a record number of applicants to the program (47), interviewed nine students, and offered admission to four. All four accepted our offer. You will receive more information about this outstanding crop of incoming students in the Fall newsletter. In addition to celebrating the National Medal of Science Award to Ralph Brinster by hosting an international symposium last August, I officially decree this the year of the training grant. As previously mentioned, program coordinator Yong No and I submitted the competitive renewals of three massive training grants. First our NIH T35 grant that supports the summer research program, second the MSTP grant competitive renewal, and third our T32 that supports VMD-PhD training in infectious disease-related research. These grants received NIH priority scores of 17, 12, and 10, respectively. That’s right, a perfect 10! I have never received a perfect NIH score in my life, but this one comes at a good time! The NIH study section clearly recognized the quality of our students, our program, and our alumni. In addition we applied for funds from Merial and the Armour-Lewis Foundation and received awards from both. We continue to seek ways to fund and expand our program as the NIH funds only cover a small portion of total program costs.

In March we celebrated the Vet Student Research Day with a keynote speaker, talks by VMD-PhD and VMD students, and numerous posters. Winners are listed inside this newsletter. The day culminated with Phi Zeta Honor Society inductions and a reception. We also have an impressive list of accomplishments by our alumni to report, and we present an update on current student publications and awards.

We are very proud of our alumni and current students, and hope that many of you will visit Penn during the coming year.

Wishing you the best in 2013,
Michael Atchison, PhD
Director, VMD-PhD Program