Congrats to Cara Newberry, Class of 2022, for being among 10 students nationally to receive an inaugural veterinary fellowship from the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) and AAVMC. 

The new Veterinary Student Research Fellowships to Address Global Challenges in Food and Agriculture (FFAR Vet Fellows) program is designed to develop generations of veterinary medical scientists interested in research careers in global food security and sustainable animal production. It creates experiences and funding opportunities for veterinary students to pursue research related to compelling challenges in agriculture and animal production.

Newberry’s research in Iringa, Tanzania is assessing the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant E. coli in local chickens and evaluating risk factors that could influence transmission to humans.

“The world faces profound challenges in food production and food security, and we’re very excited by this opportunity to work with FFAR in helping to address these problems,” said AAVMC CEO Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe. “The research experiences provided for our students through this program are creating important scientific knowledge, but moreover, they are helping these emerging scientists understand the need and the value of pursuing careers in this area.”

The three-month long fellowship allows up to 10 students annually to conduct research with a mentor. The fellowship culminates with student presentations at the annual National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, held annually in late July/early August. This year the symposium will be hosted by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

“The FFAR Vet Fellows program provides mentorship and experience that prepares rising stars in veterinary science for public service and scientific careers,” said FFAR’s Executive Director Sally Rockey. “The first cohort of Vet Fellows is conducting bold research in previously underfunded areas of veterinarian science that help farmers combat pests, disease and antimicrobial resistance.” 

Shifts in food and animal production practices, climate and exposure to infectious diseases have left livestock producers at home and abroad struggling to protect their herds, according to FFAR officials. More research is needed to understand how to best manage these issues; however, funding trends lead many veterinary scientists to focus on biomedical research, leaving various large-scale challenges in animal agriculture unaddressed. 

FFAR developed the Vet Fellows Program to encourage veterinary scientists to explore and better understand the complexities of animal production, improve animal welfare and enhance human health. 

FFAR is a nonprofit organization originally established by the 2014 Farm Bill to foster innovative scientific approaches to addressing today's food and agriculture challenges. FFAR leverages public and private resources to increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships that are critical to enhancing the sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population.