2025 CRWAD Conference

Congratulations to the 2025 Student Award Winners!

American College of Veterinary Microbiologists Awards (ACVM)

• Name of Award: Don Kahn Award (Overall best presentation)
  Name of Winner: Bryan Tegner Jacobson
  Institutional Affiliation: Montana State University
  Title of Abstract: Exploring Biofilm formation in Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae: attachment, nuclease activity, and disaggregation
• Name of Award: ACVM Student Presentation Award Oral – 1^st place
  Name of Winner: Hannah Teddleton
  Institutional Affiliation: University of Tennessee
  Title of Abstract: Exploring differential metabolic responses in immune cells from naturally parasite-resistant sheep
• Name of Award: ACVM Student Presentation Award Oral – 2^nd place
  Name of Winner: Klao Runcharoon
  Institutional Affiliation: University of Georgia
  Title of Abstract: Using challenge models to identify pathogenicity traits of novel Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) serogroups
• Name of Award: ACVM Student Presentation Award Oral – 3^rd place
  Name of Winner: Stephenie Bradley
  Institutional Affiliation: Texas A&M
  Title of Abstract: Using fluorescent Salmonella serovars to evaluate trafficking and tissue preference in orally challenged calves
• Name of Award: ACVM Student Presentation Award Poster – 1^st place
  Name of Winner: Wellesley Dittmar
  Institutional Affiliation: Louisiana State University
  Title of Abstract: Effects of white-tailed deer-specific spike glycoprotein mutations on SARS-CoV-2 fusogenic activity
• Name of Award: ACVM CRWAD Elankumaran Subbiah Memorial Travel Award
  Name of Winner: Ahmed Abouelkhair
  Institutional Affiliation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine Awards

•  Name of Award:  AVEPM Best oral presentation – 1^st Place
  Name of Winner: Alaina Macdonald
  Institutional Affiliation:  University of Guelph
  Title of Abstract: Determinants of health and disease at the global livestock-wildlife-human interface: a scoping review
• Name of Award: AVEPM Best oral presentation – 2^nd Place
  Award Winner: Taylor McAtee
  Institutional Affiliation:  Kansas State University
  Title of Abstract: Associations between estimated greenhouse gas emissions in feedlot cattle cohorts and their health and performance
• Name of Award:  AVEPM Best oral presentation – 3^rd Place
  Award Winner: Claudia Ossa
  Institutional Affiliation:  Texas A&M
  Title of Abstract: Rapid chute-side antibiotic resistance detection tool to improve antimicrobial stewardship and optimize risk management while controlling bovine respiratory disease
• Name of Award:  AVEPM Best oral presentation – 4th Place
  Award Winner: MaRyka Smith
  Institutional Affiliation:  Kansas State University
  Title of Abstract: A scoping review of Foot-and-Mouth Disease biosecurity practices and farm-level risk factors

Animal Health Institute/Joseph J. Garbarino Foundation Biosafety & Biosecurity Award

• Name of Award: Biosafety & Biosecurity – 1^st Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: Teola Noel
  Affiliation: The University of the West Indies
  Abstract Title: Characterizing pig farmer practices in Trinidad and Tobago in the context of African swine fever surveillance
• Name of Award: Biosafety & Biosecurity – 2^nd Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: Hoc Tran
  Affiliation: University of Guelph
  Abstract Title: Combining machine learning with H3 influenza A virus whole genome sequence data for host prediction
• Name of Award: Biosafety & Biosecurity – Poster Presentation (1st Place)
  Award Winner: Ahmed Aboulkhair
  Affiliation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  Abstract Title: Targeting Calcium Homeostasis is the leading pathway to control Clostridioides difficile infection
• Name of Award: Biosafety & Biosecurity – Poster Presentation (2nd Place)
  Award Winner: Eric Cheng
  Affiliation: Kansas State University
  Abstract Title: Prevalence of the Coxiella burnetii in beef cattle surveyed by real-time PCR and ELISA testing

3MT (Three Minute Thesis Competition)

• Name of Award: Student Award – 1st Place
  Name of Winner: Bradly Ramirez
  Affiliation: Texas A&M
• Name of Award: Student Award – 2nd Place
  Name of Winner: Madison Myers
  Affiliation: Michigan State University
• Name of Award: Student Award – 3rd Place
  Name of Winner: Bryanna Fayne
  Affiliation: University of Tennessee
• Name of Award: People’s Choice Award
  Name of Winner: Sara Dolatyabi
  Affiliation: The Ohio State University

American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (AAVI)

• Name of Award: AAVI 1^st Place Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: Kathryn Willits Kesler
  Abstract Title: Utilizing zinc to modulate GLUT4 expression in bovine CD4 lymphocytes.
• Name of Award: AAVI 2^nd Place Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: Jamison Slate
  Abstract Title: Duration and characterization of anamnestic responses following RB51 vaccination in bison
• Name of Award: AAVI 3^rd Place Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: Giovana Ciacci Zanella
  Abstract Title:Impact of maternal antibodies and weaning on the replication and transmission of human H3N2 Influenza A in piglets
• Name of Award: AAVI 4th Place Oral Presentation
  Award Winner: KellyGrace Keen
  Abstract Title: Effect of dietary vitamin D3 on PRRSV disease severity and immune response in nursery pigs
• Name of Award: AAVI 1st  Place Poster Presentation
  Award Winner: Saurav Pantha
  Abstract Title: Sex differences in influenza vaccine-induced immunity and protection in mice with obesity
  

CRWAD Post-Doctoral Researcher Awards

• Award Title: CRWAD Post-Doc Research Award
  Award Winner: Miguel Chirivi
  Affiliation: Michigan State University
• Award Title: CRWAD Post-Doc Research Award
  Award Winner: Abhinay Gontu
  Affiliation: Pennsylvania State University

NC1202 Enteric Diseases of Food Animals Awards

• Name of Award: Lynn Joens Memorial Award (1st Place)
  Name of Winner: Jodie Allen
  Title of Abstract: Eugenol nanoemulsion in chicken drinking water reduces Salmonella Enteritidis colonization in broiler chickens
• Name of Award: Lynn Joens Memorial Award (2nd Place)
  Name of Winner: Valeria Lugo-Mesa
  Title of Abstract: Linking Salmonella populations in feedlot holding ponds to cattle feces and the overall microbial community
• Name of Award: Lynn Joens Memorial Award (3rd Place)
  Name of Winner: Maya Craig
  Title of Abstract: Optimizing Salmonella Dublin detection in clinically ill dairy calves
• Name of Award: David Francis Award (1st Place)
  Award Winner: Jessica Kincade
  Institutional Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urnana-Champaign
  Abstract Title: A novel multi-omics perspective on postnatal deficiencies in cattle following transient fetal infection with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus
• Name of Award: David Francis Award (2nd Place)
  Award Winner: Bibek Lamichhane
  Institutional Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urnana-Champaign
  Abstract Title: Novel antibiotic alternative approaches for controlling Salmonella infections in vitro
• Name of Award: David Francis Award (3rd Place)
  Award Winner: Maria Hakimi
  Institutional Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urnana-Champaign
  Abstract Title: Molecular epidemiology and population structure of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and its impact on swine dysentery

United States Animal Vaccinology Research Coordination Network

• Name of Award: Best Oral Presentation
  Name of Winner: Raksha Suresh
  Title of Abstract: Evaluating the efficacy of mannose conjugated chitosan nanoparticle-based Salmonella subunit vaccine in adult layer chickens
• Name of Award: 2nd Place Oral Presentation
  Name of Winner: Chongyang Zhang
  Title of Abstract: Heterologous prime-boost immunization of two-component PWDVax protected weaned pigs against F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) post-weaning diarrhea (PWD)

Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine

• Name of Award: Student Award – 1st Place
  Name of Winner: San Simha Reddy Vakamalla
  Title of Abstract: Mapping the neutralizing epitopes of Shiga toxins

Saturday, January 18, 2025

• 8:00am – 10:00am USDA Project Directors Meeting — Chicago F/G – 5th Floor
• 10:00am – 12:00pm ACVM Board of Governors Meetings — Kansas City – 5th Floor
• 10:00am – 4:00pm NC1202 Annual Meeting — Chicago A/B – 5th Floor
• 12:00pm – 3:00pm NC1192 Annual Meeting — Chicago C – 5th Floor
• 1:00pm – 6:00pm Speaker Ready Room — Los Angeles – 5th Floor
• 4:00pm – 6:00pm 3MT Student Competition — Salon II – 7th Floor

Sunday, January 19, 2025

• 7:00am – 6:00pm Speaker Ready Room — Los Angeles – 5th Floor\
• 8:30am – 12:00pm Set up posters — Salon III – 7th Floor
• 8:30am – 10:00am American College of Veterinary Microbiologists Symposium — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speakers
    • John Ellis, DVM, PhD, DACVP, DACVM, ACVM
      • Distinguished Veterinary Microbiologist, “Why Aren’t We All Dead?: Improving on Mother Nature’s Plan for Immunization”
    • Matthew Scott, DVM, PhD
      • “Investigating Bovine Immune-Mediated Mechanisms Influenced by Viral Respiratory”
• 8:30 am – 10:00 am CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
•  10:00 am – 10:30 am BREAK
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm American College of Veterinary Microbiologists Symposium — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speakers
    • Scott McVey, DVM, PhD
      • “Infection and Immunity – Clinical Outcomes”
    • Kyoungjin J. Yoon, DVM
      • “Current Status of Swine Viral Infections in the US: Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases”
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm BREAK (Lunch on own)
• 12:00pm – 6:00pm View Posters — Salon III – 7th Floor
• 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm CRWAD Fellows Luncheon (Invite only) — Avenue Ballroom – 4th Floor
• 1:30pm – 2:45 pm CRWAD Council Keynote — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Keynote Speaker:
    • Philip Santangelo, PhD, CRWAD Keynote Speaker
      • “RNA Therapy Beyond Vaccination: Possibilities and Challenges”
• 2:45pm – 3:30pm CRWAD Special Symposium: Applications of mRNA Technologies in Animal Health Research — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speaker
    • Jeff Hogan, PhD
      • “Development of Countermeasures for High Consequence Zoonotic and Human”
• 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm BREAK
• 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm CRWAD Special Symposium: Applications of mRNA Technologies in Animal Health Research — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speakers:
    • Francois Villinger, DVM, PhD
      • “mRNA Applications in Non-Human Primate Models for Improved Pre-Clinical Evaluation”
    • Amelia Woolums, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVIM, DACVM
      • “Opportunities for RNA Therapy in Animal Health”
    • Panel Discussion
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm AVEPM Student Mixer Event — Chicago – 5th Floor
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm AAVI Mixer — Chicago Ballrooms – 5th Floor

Monday, January 20, 2025

• 7:00am – 6:00pm Speaker Ready Room — Los Angeles – 5th Floor
• 8:30 am – 10:00 am American Association of Veterinary Immunologists Symposium
  • Featured Speakers
    •  Armin Saalmuller, DVM, AAVI Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist
      • “Immune Response After Vaccination – Peculiarities of the Porcine Immune System”
    • Anne DeGroot, MD
      • “Potentiating the Application of Immunoinformatics Tools to Animal Health”
• 8:30 – 10:00am CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 10:00 am – 10:30 am BREAK
• 10:30am – 12:00pm American Association of Veterinary Immunologists Symposium
  • Featured Speakers:
    • Colin Parrish, PhD
      • “Emergence and Spread of Viruses in New Hosts – The Examples of Canine Parvovirus and H3N8 Canine Influenza Virus”
    • Shayan Sharif, DVM, PhD
      • “Perspectives on Vaccination as an Approach for Control of Highly Pathogenic Avian”
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm BREAK (Lunch on own)
• 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm American Association of Veterinary Immunologists Luncheon (Ticketed Event)
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine Calvin Schwabe Symposium
  • Featured Speakers:
    • Jan Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Calvin Schwabe Awardee
      • “Challenges to Conducting Epidemiologic Research Regarding Companion Animal Welfare”
    • Margaret Slater, DVM, PhD
      • “Illuminating the Welfare Implications of Free-Roaming Unowned Cats via Epidemiological Approaches”
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm CRWAD Business Meeting — Chicago D – 5th Floor
• 4:15 pm – 5:45 pm Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine Calvin Schwabe Symposium — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speakers:
    • Alexandra Protopopova, PhD, CAAB
      • “The Use of Mixed Methods to Explore the Complex Issue of Companion Animal Relinquishment to and Adoption from Animal Shelters”
    • Rachel Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, DACVPM (Epidemiology)
      • “Epidemiological Insights: Classic Tools for Modern Animal Shelter and Community Animal Health Research”
    • Panel Discussion
    • Lucas Horton, PhD, Mark Gearhart Memorial Graduate Student Awardee
      • “Stochastic Modelling of Economic Risk and Net Return Distributions for Feedlot
        Steers Marketed at Alternative Endpoints”
• 4:15 pm – 5:45 pm CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm CRWAD Poster Reception — Salon III – 7th Floor
• 8:15pm  Deadline to take down posters — Salon III – 7th Floor

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

• 7:00am – 10:30am Speaker Ready Room — Los Angeles – 5th Floor
• 8:30 am – 10:00 am Animal Vaccinology Research Symposium — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • Featured Speakers
    • Gavin Wright, DPhil, FMedSci
      • “Genome-Led Vaccine Target Discovery for Animal African Trypanosomiasis ”Featured Speakers
    • Daniel O’Connor, BsC, AFHEA, Mac, DPhil
      • “Systems Vaccinology: Utilizing the “-omics” toolkit to Elucidate the Mechanisms Underlying Immune Responses”
• 8:30 am – 10:00 am CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 10:00 am – 10:30 am BREAK
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Animal Vaccinology Research Network Symposium — Salon II – 7th Floor
  • • Laura Caldwell Miller, BSc (Hons), PhD
      • “Translating Omics Research Into Improved Swine Health”
    • Yongqun He, DVM, PhD
      • “Advancing Systems Vaccinology by Leveraging AI”
    • Panel Discussion
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm CRWAD Research Abstracts — Chicago A-G – 5th Floor
• 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Conference Closing and Student Award Presentations — Chicago D – 5th Floor

*This schedule is subject to change until the conclusion of the CRWAD Conference.

Download a PDF of the 2025 Presentation and Abstract Grid below.