Animal Model Research for Veterinarians (AMRV)
A NIH-funded T32 training program at Virginia Tech
Veterinarians are uniquely trained in the context of comparative medicine and One Health medicine. This specialized training enables veterinarians to gain a deeper conceptual understanding of the cellular and molecular processes underlying diseases and disorders in various species, including humans, especially using spontaneous animal disease models to study human disease processes. The skills gained in their DVM program give them a significant competitive edge in better understanding animal models for human diseases and the research opportunities they offer. Historically, animal models have played pivotal roles in understanding the process of many important human diseases and in developing effective therapeutics against human diseases.
The overall goal of the NIH-funded T32 Animal Model Research for Veterinarians (AMRV) Program at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) at Virginia Tech is to support trainees who already have a DVM with training in cutting-edge biomedical research skills and encourage them to pursue a biomedical research-related career, mostly in academia, but also in government and industry.
DVMs will be recruited into the AMRV program at VMCVM to complete a doctoral degree (PhD) in a research discipline using animal models studying various infectious and non-infectious human diseases through the VMCVM’s Biomedical and Veterinary Science (BMVS) PhD graduate program. While the NIH T32 AMRV program is administered through VMCVM, the participating faculty mentors in the AMRV program represent several Colleges at Virginia Tech. The AMRV program focuses on pairing trainees’ research interests with the faculty mentor’s expertise in the areas of animal models of infectious diseases, immunological and inflammatory diseases, and neurobiology.
Program administration
Director
X.J. Meng, MD, PhD, MS
University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology; Professor of Internal Medicine, VTC School of Medicine
xjmeng@vt.edu
Co-director
Ansar Ahmed, BVSc, PhD
Professor of Immunology, Director, Summer Veterinary Student Research Program
ansrahmd@vt.edu
Co-director
Audrey Ruple, DVM, PhD, MS
Associate Professor, Quantitative Epidemiology, Metcalf Professor of Veterinary Medical Informatics
aruple@vt.edu
Coordinator
Liz Bowman, MBA
Grants Administrator
540-231-4113
elbowman@vt.edu
News stories
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Article Item
Mid-Atlantic regional workshop at Virginia Tech highlights value of T32 research training program for veterinarians , articleThe National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant, more commonly called a T32 grant, offered by the National Institutes of Health provides a way to fund veterinarians who pursue a Ph.D. and become leaders in biomedical research with the guidance of an experienced mentor.
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Animal Model Research for Veterinarians Ph.D. training program awarded NIH grant , articleThe Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is among a relatively small group of veterinary colleges awarded a T32 grant to train post-D.V.M. veterinarians in biomedical research.
The Stipend and Benefits
- Annual stipend rate will follow the NIH NRSA postdoctoral pay scale [approximately $63,480 with 0 year of post-DVM experience in 2026].
- Tuition waiver
- Travel allowance to attend scientific conferences
- Research allowance
Eligibility and Application Process
Applicants must have earned a DVM or VMD from an AVMA-accredited school and be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Applicants must submit an application for the Biomedical and Veterinary Science (BMVS) PhD graduate program through the Virginia Tech Graduate School. Please indicate in your cover letter that you are applying for the NIH-funded T32 Animal Model Research for Veterinarians (AMRV) Program.
For additional information about the NIH T32 AMRV program or assistance with the application process, please contact Elizabeth Bowman at elbowman@vt.edu.
Blacksburg, Virginia
Nestled on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, Blacksburg is part of Montgomery County in the heart of Southwest Virginia's New River Valley. Because of its award-winning services, reasonable cost of living, safety, moderate climate, and abundant leisure activities, Blacksburg is consistently ranked among the country's best places to live and has a nationwide reputation as a well-managed, stable, and forward-looking community.
Faculty mentors
Ansar Ahmed, BVSc, PhD
Professor of Immunology
ansrahmd@vt.edu
Irving Coy Allen, PhD, MBA, MS
Professor of Inflammatory Diseases
icallen@vt.edu
Jonathan Auguste, PhD
Associate Professor of Arbovirology
jauguste@vt.edu
Andrea S. Bertke, PhD
Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases
asbertke@vt.edu
Ira Blader, PhD
Professor of Parasitology
iblader@vt.edu
Michele Borgarelli, DVM, PhD
Professor of Cardiology
micheb1@vt.edu
Clayton Caswell, PhD
Associate Professor of Bacteriology
caswellc@vt.edu
Nisha Duggal, PhD
Associate Professor of Virology
nduggal@vt.edu
Shannon Farris, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
farrissl@vtc.vt.edu
Robert Gourdie, PhD
Heywood Fralin Endowed Professor of Heart Reparative Medicine
gourdier@vt.edu
Bryan Hsu, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
bhsu@vt.edu
Kylene Kehn-Hall, PhD, MS
Professor of Virology
kkehnhall@vt.edu
Kevin Lahmers, DVM, PhD
Professor of Anatomic Pathology
klahmers@vt.edu
Tanya LeRoith, DVM, PhD, MBA
Professor of Anatomic Pathology
tleroith@vt.edu
Liwu Li, PhD
Professor of Biological Sciences
lwli@vt.edu
Xin Luo, PhD
Professor of Immunology
xinluo@vt.edu
X.J. Meng, MD, PhD, MS
University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology
xjmeng@vt.edu
Paul Morton, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
pmorton@vt.edu
Kathleen Mulvaney, PhD
Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology
kathleenmulvaney@vt.edu
Kirsten Nielsen, PhD
Professor of Mycology
kirstennielsen@vt.edu
Yuchin Albert Pan, PhD
Associate Professor of Neuroscience
yapan@vtc.vt.edu
John Rossmeisl, DVM, MS
Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology
jrossmei@vt.edu
Audrey Ruple, DVM, PhD, MS
Metcalf Professor of Veterinary Medical Informatics
aruple@vt.edu
Mohamed Seleem, DVM, PhD, MS
Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Chair in Bacteriology
seleem@vt.edu
Sharon Swanger, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology
saswanger@vtc.vt.edu
Michelle Theus, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology
mtheus@vt.edu
Joanne Tuohy, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology
jltuohy@vt.edu
James Weger-Lucarelli, PhD
Associate Professor of Virology
weger@vt.edu
Hehuang “David” Xie, PhD
Professor of Epigenomics and Computational Biology
davidxie@vt.edu
Lijuan Yuan, PhD
Professor of Virology
lyuan@vt.edu
Mike Zhang, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering
chzhang2@vt.edu
Alumni
- Elizabeth Harris, Current Trainee
- Janice O’Brien, Current Trainee
- Elise Hennessy, Current Trainee
- Mitchell Caudill, 2025, Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Michael Brooks, 2024, Veterinary Medical Officer, USDA APHIS
- Cody Swilley, 2023, Veterinary Scientist, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Danielle M. Yugo, 2018, Veterinary Medical Officer, USDA APHIS
- Erica L. Twitchell, 2017, Senior Research Veterinary Pathologist, Charles River Laboratories
- Michael Edwards, 2017, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
- Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott, 2017, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech
- Kristin Eden, 2016, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
- Brent Sanford, 2012, Deputy Director, National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, and Deputy Director, North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, USDA Plum Island Animal Disease Center
- Thomas Cecere, 2012, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech
- Samantha Baglin, 2011, Emergency Veterinarian, Columbia Pike Animal Hospital and Emergency Center
- Eva M. Restis, 2010, Associate Principal Scientist and Research Veterinarian, Merck Animal Health