The university and its leaders have again been recently highlighted for their biodefense efforts. Two Kansas State University veterinarians and leaders — Drs. Nancy and Jerry Jaax — and their response to an Ebola-related outbreak inspired the recent National Geographic limited series, THE HOT ZONE.

"Nancy and Jerry Jaax are leaders who expanded the university's land-grant mission through their work and expertise in biodefense," Ron Trewyn, the university's NBAF liaison said. "From their work with the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick to their work with researchers in Manhattan, Nancy and Jerry helped make K-State the 'Silicon Valley for biodefense.'"

In 1999, Jerry helped Kansas State University publish the "Homeland Defense Food Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Program." The 100-page document — informally called "The Big Purple Book" — outlined the university's infectious disease research programs and the need for a facility to address three major infectious disease components: plant pathology, animal health and food processing.

That led to the creation of Kansas State University's biocontainment facility called the Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. Both Jerry and Nancy played key roles in the development of the institute and Nancy inspired the need for a training lab based on her experience with Ebola.

Jerry and Nancy also assisted in winning the national competition for the federal National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, which is under construction north of the university's Manhattan campus and will replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center in New York. Once NBAF becomes operational in 2022-2023, it will be America's foremost animal disease research facility.

As the "Silicon Valley for biodefense," Kansas State University maintains numerous facilities, research collaborations and academic programs devoted to agrodefense and biodefense, including the following list:

• The College of Veterinary Medicine.

• The College of Agriculture.

• The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC.

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases, or CEEZAD.

• The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, or FARAD.

• The K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, part of the Great Plains Diagnostic Network.

• The Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI.

• The federal National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF.

• The Kansas Department of Agriculture.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, which is home to several research units in Manhattan: the Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, the Grain Quality and Structure Research Unit and the Hard Winter Wheat and Genetics Research Unit.

Learn more about Kansas State University as the "Silicon Valley for biodefense."

Dr. Hans Coetzee, head of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University and his collaborator, is the principal investigator of a multi-institutional research team.

“In the swine industry, piglets regularly undergo painful procedures during process, such as tail docking and castration, which has become an emerging animal welfare concern,” Dr. Coetzee said. “We hypothesized that transmammary delivery of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) – in this case, firocoxib – would reduce pain associated with processing in piglets. Our findings indicated this technique may safely reduce processing-induced stress and enhance production by increasing weaning weights.”

Dr. Coetzee’s research was funded by the National Pork Board (grant No. 16-118) and resulted in the publication of the study, as well as a provisional patent application. His team consisted of researchers from Kansas State University’s Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine and Department of Mathematics, Iowa State University and Midwest Veterinary Services Inc., the latter of which is operated by Dr. Kelly Lechtenberg, a 1987 alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to pain-relief benefits for the piglets, Dr. Coetzee contemplates a potential benefit for the mothers.

“Additional large-scale studies could focus on changes in feed intake, bodyweight and milk composition of sows medicated with firocoxib,” Dr. Coetzee said. “By doing so, we could determine whether the NSAID improves the welfare of the sows in addition to impacting the welfare of the nursing piglets.”

The study was published in the Journal of Animal Science under the title, “Transmammary delivery of firocoxib to piglets reduces stress and improves average daily gain after castration, tail docking, and teeth clipping.”

"Communications excellence is fundamental to institutional advancement," said Andrew T. Maccabe, the association's chief executive officer. "We congratulate our colleagues at Kansas State University for earning this distinction, and appreciate the role their work is playing in advancing the overall interests of academic veterinary medicine."

Following the completion of a new strategic plan at the college, the communications team consolidated two magazines into one new College of Veterinary Medicine-themed magazine called Wildcat Veterinarian. The new magazine was created to advance understanding and support for key initiatives and priorities in the strategic plan, which include building awareness for their outstanding food animal programs, as well as their responsive and collaborative research and service programs.

"We really appreciate the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges for its support of this award and its support of the communicators who have some unique challenges in promoting veterinary medical education and the veterinary profession," Montgomery said. "We had a third member on our team, Shelby Mettlen, who left our college this spring. Shelby played a significant role in designing and contributing content to the inaugural issue of Wildcat Veterinarian. This award is truly the result of a team effort made possible by the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of our college's faculty, students, staff and alumni, who gave so much great content for our publications and communications."

Judges also recognized their portfolio of communication strategies and tactics, including media relations with the veterinary and scientific trade press, broad-based and creative use of social media, strong collaboration with Hill's Pet Nutrition in coordinating the announcement of the largest gift in the history of the college, and providing support for the Kansas State University Diagnostic Laboratory.

The judging team consisted of communication professionals representing member organizations of the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions in Washington, D.C. Judges scored nominations from five competing schools using an empirical process that assessed criteria such as quality and scope of the program, leadership and innovation in program development, strategic orientation and other factors.

The award includes a $1,000 honorarium, a commemorative, and public recognition. It will be formally presented during the annual meeting of the Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals, at 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Courtyard Washington/Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges board of directors established the Communications Excellence Award in 2013 to recognize the important role of communications in advancing academic veterinary medicine and the profession, inspire higher level of performance and foster collaboration among member institutions.

The association is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people and the environment around the world by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Members include 49 accredited veterinary medical colleges in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Small Animal

Dr. Matt Miesner (far right) presents the Dr. Wayne and Druecillia Burch Memorial Award to Kotie White, Elizabeth Minnix, Haley DeLong, Callie Kubick, Jordan Gebhardt, Joyce Osgood, Jessie Schulteis, Kyle Stromgren, Isabelle Withrock-Davis and Kara Mauch.

Large Animal

Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology

Miscellaneous

This scholarship is designed to support individuals with a background of participation in AKC events and programs, who seek to promote animal health and medicine. A total of $35,000 in scholarship money was awarded.

“I am blessed and honored to be awarded the AKC Veterinary Outreach Scholarship,” Emily said. “These funds will help support my academic goals of becoming a veterinary orthopedic surgeon as I head into my second year of veterinary curriculum at K-State. As the AKC Student Ambassador at K-State, I look forward to exploring the opportunities available with this new relationship between the AKC and K-State.”

“The recipients of this scholarship are truly dedicated to the world of purebred dogs and the health and well-being of animals. They have worked hard to balance their demanding school schedules with participation in AKC events,” said Mari-Beth O’Neill, vice president of sport services. “We are very proud of them and look forward to seeing their impact on the future of veterinary medicine.”

Overall, National Livestock presented two veterinary medicine scholarships and 22 undergraduate agriculture scholarships, totaling $54,000, were presented this year to deserving current college students and/or high school seniors.

“I am very honored to have received this scholarship from National Livestock,” Butler said. “After school I plan on locating to a rural practice where I can work alongside National Livestock and their clients in a relationship that will hopefully benefit both local producers and the beef industry as a whole.”

To be eligible for the annual scholarships, students must be attending or planning to attend an accredited university pursuing a degree program in agriculture or an agriculture-related program. Students must also be a family member of a customer of the National Livestock Companies or be recommended by a customer of the National Livestock Companies. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained.

For more information on the National Livestock Companies Scholarship Program, visit our website at www.nationallivestock.com.