The 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium took place from August 6 to 8 in Raleigh, North Carolina, drawing over 500 veterinary students and industry leaders from more than three dozen veterinary schools. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and organized by the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, the symposium showcases research by emerging veterinary scientists and serves as a highlight of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program.
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Celebrating nearly 40 years, this program has provided hands-on biomedical research experience to cultivate scientific talent and foster a global network within animal and human health sciences. During the event, Isha Chauhan, a DVM/PhD student at Cornell University, was awarded the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students for her work on early equine pregnancy loss. Using a genome-wide association study, she identified genetic variants associated with pregnancy loss, potentially informing prenatal screening tools for horses and expanding understanding of pregnancy loss in human medicine.
Kevin Gustafson, DVM, PhD, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians for his research at the University of Missouri. His PhD thesis explored the impact of the parental gut microbiome on fetal development and subsequent offspring behavior, metabolism, and brain function. His findings enhance knowledge of the maternal gut microbiome's influence on neurodevelopment and could lead to new health strategies for both humans and animals.
Monica Figueiredo, director of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of veterinary scientists for ongoing innovation in animal health. She noted that participants gain essential research experience and mentorship, shaping the future of the veterinary profession.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s initiatives, including the Veterinary Scholars Symposium, underscore its commitment to supporting veterinary education and talent development. The company contributes tens of thousands of doses of vaccines and treatments to veterinary schools annually and actively engages with students to enhance their educational experience. Over three years, the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation will invest $2.5 million to address critical challenges in the veterinary field, including fostering future veterinarians.