Hospital Hosts 2026 Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium
On March 20, 2026, the UC Davis veterinary hospital hosted the 47th annual Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium (VIRRS). The day-long event featured short presentations of research findings from house officers (residents, fellows, interns) to fellow house officers, faculty, staff, students, and guests.
Having the ability to do research is a major advantage of doing a residency at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. With the largest and most diverse house office program in the country, the hospital is able to offer research opportunities not available elsewhere. UC Davis currently trains 144 house officers in approximately 40 training programs, and 44 total research studies were presented at this year’s VIRRS, covering a large breadth of topics throughout veterinary medicine.
VIRRS is overseen by the House Officer Affairs Board, consisting of faculty members Drs. Jamie Burkitt (co-chair), Amandine Lejeune (co-chair), Rana Bozorgmanesh, Peter Delisser, Pouya Dini, Amir Kol, and Bianca Martins, with program support from Audra Johnson. Moderators for the event included Drs. Barb Byrne, Steven Hollingsworth, Brad Smith, Sue Stover, Stephen White, and Joe Zinkl. Congratulations to all for organizing yet another successful VIRRS.
Award winners at the 2026 VIRRS included:
Gerald V Ling Award for Outstanding Research Study and Abstract
Dr. Alba Planas Vintro (fellow), Feline Pediatrics: “Validation of Blood Typing in Kittens Using Heparinized Microhematocrit Tubes”
Award for Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation #1
Dr. Glynn Woods (fellow), Small Animal Infectious Disease: “Sensitivity and Specificity of a serum 1,3-β-D-Glucan Assay for the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections in Dogs”
Award for Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation #2
Dr. Alli Harju (resident), Neurology and Neurosurgery: “Neurofilament Light as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Canine Degenerative Myelopathy”
Award for Outstanding Large Animal Research Study and Presentation
Dr. Thadeu De Castro (resident). Equine Reproduction: “Optimizing Follicular Aspiration in Mares: Effects of Growth and Atresia Phases on ICSI Embryo Production”
Award for Outstanding Avian, Exotics, Laboratory Animal, or Poultry Research Study and Presentation Award
Dr. Jessica Kwan (resident), Laboratory Animal Medicine: “Scuticociliatosis Outbreak Causing Complete Colony Mortality in Captive Lined Seahorses (Hippocampus erectus)”
Chris Smith Award for Outstanding Equine Research Study and Presentation
Dr. Shane Mart (resident). Anesthesiology: “Investigating the Effect of Surface Cryoanalgesia on Equine Patient Compliance to Infraorbital Nerve Block Placement”
Support for the event was provided by the Center for Companion Animal Health, the Center for Equine Health, the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, MedVet, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.