Dr. Laura Bruner, a veterinarian with the Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minnesota, was awarded the 2026 Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award on September 21 at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. The award recognizes her leadership in swine health, biosecurity, and practical disease management.
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Bruner, who has worked in swine veterinary medicine since 2007, emphasizes a preventive approach to her work. She focuses on enhancing biosecurity practices among her clients to minimize disease risks. "I am always working in prevention mode... My goal is to prevent animals from getting sick by continually improving biosecurity practices," Bruner stated.
Each day, she collaborates with producers and production teams to implement science-based solutions that enhance herd performance and animal welfare in farm settings. Her work often involves tracking disease trends and monitoring the health of swine populations. Bruner maintains a strong partnership with researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, where they address various challenges facing the pork industry, including disease outbreaks and biosecurity measures.
Montse Torremorell, a professor and chair of the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota, remarked on Bruner's dedication, stating, "Dr. Bruner goes the extra mile to generate practical knowledge and share it with producers and veterinarians to help prevent and control disease. Her kindness and generosity are evident throughout her work to help others in the swine industry."
Bruner's research is advancing knowledge concerning swine respiratory viruses, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, swine influenza, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, and Streptococcus suis. The Science in Practice Award is sponsored by Merck Animal Health, part of Merck & Co., Inc., dedicated to addressing swine disease and reproductive challenges to improve animal health and operational efficiency.