The faculty in the Department of Animal Science are developing a focused research program in mammary gland biology.  The goal is:

To develop a strong research program in basic mammary gland biology with application to breast cancer in humans and lactation physiology in dairy cows.

The mammary gland is unique to all animals that are in the Class Mammalia and serves the critical role of nourishment of the young.  In this role, the mammary gland undergoes cyclic development of breast tissue which is under tight regulation by processes that stimulate or inhibit mammary growth and development.  In some cases, the breast loses the ability to control its growth and thus may develop cancer.  The research conducted in the Department of Animal Science is committed to work on the basic processes that effect mammary growth and development.  

The disciplines that the Department of Animal Science is focusing on include:

Developmental Biology: McFadden, Pan, Smith, Zhao

Cell Signaling and Metabolism:  Kerr, Pan, Zhao

Pathogenesis:  Barlow, Kerr, Smith

The strength of the developing program in Animal Science is breadth with a focus on mammary gland biology.  This research focus reflects the importance of the dairy industry to the College of Agriculture, the state of Vermont and the New England region and also allows individuals to contribute directly to the research  themes of  the Vermont Cancer Center, in particular cell signaling and growth control and  genome stability and expression.  

The strength of a core research focus makes the faculty eligible for opportunities such as program project grants from NIH, post-doctoral programs offered through USDA, individual USDA grants as well as strengthening awards.  It also makes the group attractive to industry in the state (examples include: Feed Dealers Associations and Vermont Dairy Promotion Council) because the department can provide a wide range of experimental tools and answer a wide variety of questions pertaining to dairy.  This focus also greatly enhances opportunities for patents as evidenced by the recent application of Bramley, Plaut and Kerr and preliminary patenting by Hovey.

A core focus helps to generate collaborations among departments.  Strength in mammary gland biology/lactation physiology has links with Nutrition through providing quality dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream.  Ties with Microbiology and Molecular Genetics develop around protecting the mammary gland against bacterial pathogens that cause mastitis as well as development of DNA vaccines and other methods to combat disease.  Mammary gland biology has clear links with Pathology with respect to breast cancer research.

Partnering of Animal Science with other departments promotes better utilization of resources.  The Vermont Cancer Center is a recognized resource that provides comprehensive knowledge and state of the art core facilities in imaging, molecular modeling and diagnostics and potentially microarray and bioinformatics. The department utilizes all the animal facilities provided in the medical school for laboratory animal  research  as well as an ungulate facility.   We can also take advantage of the renovated Miller Research Farm at UVM.  While it is expected that large field trials will be done in commercial herds, the new facility will allow small intensive studies to be conducted on DNA vaccines, utilization of alternative feeds, mastitis treatments…  The contacts already established with the feed industry and Miner Institute indicates that there is the potential for wide industrial support of animal trials.

The graduate program greatly benefits from a core focus.  This will help to offset the draw by departments across the country with much larger programs.   In addition, the department has established a joint Ph. D. program with Nutrition and Food Science to enhance the size and scope of the graduate program.  As faculty develop links with other departments and the graduate programs are reevaluated across campus, it is envisioned that a bigger interdisciplinary program (such as a Life Sciences program) may offer for a broader education with specific expertise of more faculty.

Financial support for research in Animal Science relies heavily on USDA which has lower levels of support than NIH or NSF; partnering with medical school faculty open up doors to NIH funding.  In the agricultural area, sales of dairy related products in Vermont are about $2 billion per year.  Capturing a small fraction of this resource for reinvestment in to research would greatly benefit the department and the University’s ties with the community.  Contacts with the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council as well as the feed industry and Miner Institute in Chazy, NY have already been established and will continue to generate resource dollars for the department.

The Department of Animal Science is currently hiring several new faculty members.  These positions will support the basic focus in mammary gland biology while strengthening ruminant nutrition, the basic developmental biology, the cell signaling and metabolism or the pathogenesis core group.

Engagement and connections with the world outside UVM
 
The Department of Animal Science is lucky to be able to play a pivotal position in the link between the University,  the Land-Grant University in Vermont, and the community,.  Through the extension system, there is the possibility to engage many people through out the state.  The extension service has the resources and television shows such as Across the Fence, Newsletters, WebPages … to engage the people of the state in active discussions and to help them develop a sense of pride in the University of Vermont.  One focus of this effort must be dairy since Vermont is the most dairy dependent state in the nation.  To meet the dairy needs, the Department of Animal Science must be a pivotal point for linking research at the University to the community as well as providing the conduit for getting people information and tools that they need to improve their lives.  The department needs to rebuild a strong relationship to the dairy industry by providing Extension leadership at UVM that partners with the field faculty in the state.  The department has recently hired Dr. Julia Smith, DVM, Ph.D to begin to reestablish this link.

The University must also expand in to other areas of animal agriculture that are important for the state.  For example, the equine industry is rapidly expanding in the state with at least 75,000 acres of land kept open for pasture and a large increase in the number of equine enthusiasts in the state.   The addition of Dr. Betsy Greene will allow us to develop more programs for equine enthusiasts including short courses and a web based data base for the equine industry.

The Miller Research Farm and the Morgan Horse Farm also represent a key to educating the public about Agriculture, the environment, the teaching programs in the department and the University’s link to Agriculture.   With an estimated 30,000 visitors per facility, the University has a captive audience of 60,000.  This not only provides a service to the University; it helps the public understand the role of Agriculture in Vermont and in daily life.  Enhancement of technology at the farms as well as using interns will create a more visible link between the University and its farms.

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