- More than 500 veterinary students participated in the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium, held Aug. 6–8 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Cornell University DVM/PhD student Isha Chauhan received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students for research into genetic factors associated with early equine pregnancy loss.
- Kevin Gustafson, DVM, PhD, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians for research examining how the parental gut microbiome influences fetal development and offspring health.
- The symposium is the culmination of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, which has introduced veterinary students to biomedical research since 1989.
- Boehringer Ingelheim also supports veterinary education through product donations, employee engagement with veterinary schools and philanthropic initiatives aimed at strengthening the veterinary workforce.
More than 500 veterinary students joined researchers and animal health industry leaders in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium, an annual event designed to showcase emerging veterinary research and encourage careers in biomedical science.
Held Aug. 6–8 and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, the symposium was organized by NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and brought together participants from more than three dozen veterinary schools.
The event marks the culmination of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, which was established in 1989 to provide first- and second-year veterinary students with hands-on biomedical research experience. The program is intended to help participants develop research skills and explore careers in academia, industry and public health.
“Investing in the next generation of veterinary scientists is essential to advancing innovation in animal health,” said Monica Figueiredo, PhD, DVM, DACVIM, director of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. She said the program combines research experience with mentorship to help students translate scientific curiosity into discoveries that can advance animal health and the veterinary profession.
Researchers recognized for 2026 projects
Two researchers received Boehringer Ingelheim Research Awards during this year’s symposium.
Isha Chauhan, a DVM/PhD student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students for work investigating early equine pregnancy loss.
Chauhan used a genome-wide association study to search for genetic variants associated with pregnancy loss in horses. Her research analyzed more than 400 samples and identified mutations in developmental genes that may contribute to early pregnancy failure.
The research could support future development of preimplantation and prenatal screening tools intended to improve reproductive outcomes in horses. According to the company, the findings could also contribute to research into pregnancy loss in human medicine.
Kevin Gustafson, DVM, PhD, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians for his PhD research at the University of Missouri examining connections between the parental gut microbiome and offspring development.
His work investigated how the microbiome may influence fetal development as well as offspring behavior, metabolism and brain function. Using behavioral testing, microbiome profiling and genomic analyses, Gustafson studied mechanisms involving gut metabolite production, hippocampal DNA methylation and gene expression.
The findings could help researchers better understand how differences in the parental microbiome affect development and lifelong health, with potential implications for both animal and human health.
Applications for the 2027 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Awards are due Dec. 30, 2026.
Supporting veterinary education and workforce development
Boehringer Ingelheim said the Veterinary Scholars Program is part of a broader effort to support veterinary education and develop the profession’s future workforce.
The company annually provides veterinary schools across the United States with tens of thousands of doses of vaccines and parasite prevention products for community and shelter outreach programs that also provide students with practical experience.
Boehringer Ingelheim veterinarians also volunteer with veterinary schools through instruction, mentorship and community programs.
Separately, the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation’s Animal Health Program has committed $2.5 million over three years to initiatives addressing challenges facing the veterinary profession, including efforts to strengthen the pipeline of future veterinarians.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
