Faaz Rehman, 3rd year resident, has been selected as one of four laboratory animal medicine residents to present their research projects at ALCAM Forum Conference in Newport, Rhode Island. He will also have his attendance costs covered including registration, hotel, and travel expenses!

Bryanna Leazer, 1st year resident, was one of 50 trainees at the University of Chicago selected to participate in Becoming a Leader, a professional development series, open to all trainees, postdocs, and PhD students, designed in support of the professional development of women in science and medicine.

Two residents will be presenting at the CBAALAS Midwest Conference in Northbrook, IL.

Faaz Rehman: Aquatic Advancements: Refining Survival Blood Collection in Zebrafish.

Joanna Copio: Analysis of IVC Microenvironments During 21 Day Cage Change Frequency Using Two Different Rodent Bedding Types.

Joanna Copio, 2nd year resident, and Faaz Rehman, 3rd year resident, were two of the six individuals selected for the ASLAP AALAS Travel Award! This program is intended to highlight the practice of laboratory animal medicine by supporting veterinary students and laboratory animal medicine residents/trainees who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field to attend the National AALAS meeting.

Two residents will be presenting at the 75th AALAS National Meeting in Nashville, TN.

Faaz Rehman: Refining Survival Blood Collection in Zebrafish. Abstract accepted for platform session.

Faaz Rehman: Aquatic Advancements: Validation of a Novel Zebrafish Survival Blood Collection Technique. Abstract accepted for platform session.

Joanna Copio: Analysis of IVC Microenvironments During 21 Day Cage Change Frequency Using Two Different Rodent Bedding Types. Abstract accepted for platform session.

Joanna Copio: The Establishment of Cephalopod Standards and Protocols at the University of Chicago in Response to Growing Use in Neuroscience Research. Abstract accepted for poster.

Joanna Copio, 1st year resident, has received funding from ACLAM Foundation for her residency research project entitled “Assessing local anesthesia in Octopus bimaculoides to provide analgesia during a regenerative surgical procedure.” Joanna is the first U of C resident to be awarded grant funding! The ACLAM Foundation seeks to expand knowledge supporting biomedical research and the health and welfare of research animals through the funding of research grants.

Bryanna Leazer, who will become a first year resident in July 2024, was awarded the ASLAP Veterinary Student Award. The VSAP is intended to increase awareness of the practice of laboratory animal medicine by recognizing six current senior veterinary students who have demonstrated significant interest and potential in the field. The Veterinary Student Award Program (VSAP) provides a certificate, one year’s membership in ASLAP, a copy of the 3rd edition of the ACLAM Laboratory Animal Medicine textbook, and a monetary award of $300.

Bryanna completed a BS in Organismal Biology at Auburn University and is currently finishing her DVM at North Carolina State University. She has had a passion for laboratory animal medicine since she discovered it while working with laboratory piglets at age 19. During her veterinary degree, she has developed a love for animal welfare, anesthesia, pharmacology, and promoting DEI initiatives in the veterinary field. She completed her ASLAP Fellowship at the University of Chicago in 2022 and is excited to return. In her free time, she enjoys reading, weight lifting, and cuddling with her boxer-pitt mix named Zuko. Bryanna will start at UChicago on July 1.

Bryanna Meredith’s ASLAP Summer Fellowship research project manuscript has been accepted to JAALAS. Dr. Bridget Clancy was the resident mentor and co-first author.  Titled “Extended Sanitation Intervals for Cage Components and Automated Watering Valves: Validation and Cost Analysis,” the project evaluated extended sanitation intervals of rodent cage components (automated watering valve, wire bar lid, and filter top) of mouse IVCs at our institution. It also assessed the time and cost savings of moving from our standard sanitation interval to an extended one.

Dr. Bridget Clancy, recent graduate of the residency program, had her residency research project manuscript featured as the cover image for the July issue of JAALAS! The project entitled “The Effect of Noise, Vibration, and Light Disturbances from Daily Health Checks on Breeding Performance, Nest Building, and Corticosterone in Mice” sought to assess the effect of partial cage undocking or LED flashlight use during daily health checks on fecundity, nest building scores, and hair corticosterone in C57BL/6J mice in order to assess the least disturbing method of performing health checks for mice on IVC racks.