Research

Agriculture is a key industry in Arkansas that supports the health of animals and people across the state, the nation, and beyond.  This research area focuses on finding ways to improve the health and productivity of horses and food animals, including poultry, cattle, small ruminants, and swine.

Participating faculty from the College of Agriculture:

• Dr. Jerica Rich, beef reproduction
• Dr. Hunter Burnett, beef nutrition and genetics
• Dr. Bud Kennedy, livestock nutrition

Expanding human populations lead to disruption of the environment and changes in land use. Globalization leads to increased interaction among people and animals. Both of these factors leading to opportunities for disease to pass to animal populations and between animals and people. Characterizing the inter-relationships between the health of people, animals, and the environment and identifying factors that may prevent or ameliorate disease across ecosystems is the focus of this research area.

Faculty Collaboration Opportunities:

• Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, Ecotoxicology
  
• Dr. Kyle Gustafson, parasitology and population genetics
  
• Dr. Lori Neuman-Lee
  
• Dr. Than Boves

Educational methods and technologies continue to evolve to better support students in their learning.  This research area focuses on developing evidence in methods for educating and supporting veterinary students to optimize outcomes and ensure graduate preparedness to enter into the workforce.

Faculty Expertise:

• Dr. Sarah Hooper, veterinary educational innovation and student success
• Dr. Heidi Banse, veterinary education

Collaborative Research Opportunities:

• Dr. Nina Crutchfield, agricultural education

The integration of data science, analytics, and AI into veterinary medicine and education is transforming the veterinary field. This research area harnesses these technologies  to improve the health of small animals, large animals, food animals, and wildlife.  By developing predictive models for disease and advancing individualized medicine and herd health management, these innovations drive more precise, proactive, and effective veterinary care.

Faculty Expertise:

• Dr. Sarah Hooper, data science and analytics, AI

Collaborative Research Opportunities:

• Dr. Jason Causey, machine learning; biomedical data analysis

The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is a collaborative, multidisciplinary research institute, less than ¼ mile from the College of Veterinary Medicine Building on the A-State  campus.

The CVM and its research active faculty are integral to the planned growth of ABI and its interdisciplinary mission. ABI has a strong centralized core of research equipment, including facilities and equipment for animal cell culture, flow cytometry equipment, histology, microscopy, mass spectrometry, molecular biology, liquid scintillation and Geiger counter, and general laboratory support.

The College of Veterinary Medicine has access to laboratories, faculty offices, and shared equipment at ABI.