Penn Vet Leads

Established in 1884, Penn Vet is the only veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Vet is a key partner in one of the world's great biomedical research and teaching centers. Many of our faculty are dually-appointed, collaborating with other research teams at Penn as well as throughout the world. Penn Vet research impacts human lives, as well as those of animals.

Learn how Penn Vet LEADS:

Collaboration: Our expert clinicians and researchers collaborate with the best minds across the University and around the world to advance medical and scientific research.
History of firsts: Our history of firsts translates to unparalleled expertise.
Global impact: Our research and training make a broad and deep global impact.

Collaboration

Penn Vet leads the profession in NIH-supported research
Dr. Charles Vite CGS’99, GR03 collaborates with the Mayo Clinic to predict and control seizures in dogs and people
Dr. Tracy Bale’s research on the effects of in utero stress translates to humans
Dr. Chris Hunter and Penn Physics team discover T-cells move in predatory patterns like sharks
Dr. Karin Sorenmo and her colleagues care for shelter dogs with mammary tumors, matching them with owners and collecting data to advance treatment of human breast cancers
Our Imaging Core is used by researchers across the University
Dr. Chris Hunter and Penn Med identify a molecule that halts inflammation in the immune system
Dr. Kurt Hankenson and Penn Vet researchers discover a protein that can help both human and animal patients heal from bone fractures faster
Dr. David Holt and Penn Med create new cancer imaging system for use during surgery

History of Firsts

Dr. Ralph Brinster, V’60, became the first and only veterinarian to receive the National Medal of Science in 2011
Our New Bolton Center pioneered the first equine pool recovery system
We opened the first state-of-the-art Buerger Family Minimally Invasive Surgery Suite
The first NICU built for the care of critically ill large animals opened at the New Bolton Center
Penn Vet was the first to develop a method for detecting anabolic steroids in plasma, allowing the PA Racing Commission to enforce the ban on steroids in racehorses using blood instead of urine
Our Sports Medicine program – the first to be accredited in the US – caters to the equine athlete just as sports medicine specialists treat human athletes
Dr. Shelley Rankin developed the first quick test for salmonella, which has been adopted by the FDA, better ensuring egg safety for consumers
The first-of-its-kind Moran Critical Care Center represents the highest standard of care and biosecurity for large animals
Our semi-feral pony herd is the first and only of its kind established for equine research
New Bolton Center is the birthplace of the “glue-on shoe” offering solutions to equine foot problems and lamenesses that have challenged horse owners for years

Global Impact

Penn Vet’s Student Inspiration Award winners have led projects across the world, including Thailand, India, and Haiti
New Bolton Center’s CPM Dairy software is being implemented around the world
We are breeding our very own bomb detection and search and rescue dogs at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Dr. Phil Scott was awarded an International Collaborations in Infectious Disease Research grant to understand the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis, causing a major public health problem in Brazil
Dr. Gus Aguirre, V’68, received the International Canine Health Award for his canine gene therapy research
Dean Joan Hendricks, V'79, and Dr. Narayan Avadhani traveled to India to learn about the BAIF Development Research Foundation’s livestock programs
Our Swine Teaching and Research Unit has been a leader in studying alternative models for the housing of mother sows, influencing producers across the world
Penn Vet preserves and protects the safety of the food supply and the health of the public as part of PADLS