Oath
The
TEACH • HEAL • DISCOVER
Amazing Grace: World-Class Survivor page 3
SUMMER 2016
Tillman Scholar’s High-Flying Dreams Land at NC State page 2
The Aspirin of the 21st Century page 5
Churchill’s Tribute page 7
Exceptional Care page 9
Annables’ Impact page 10
FROM THE DEAN
New Directions The start of the new academic year is a time of rejuvenation and renewal, with important decisions that determine the course of a lifetime. First, welcome to the class of 2020! Congratulations on coming through a highly competitive admissions process. Prepare for an amazing transformative journey to become the future leaders of your profession. We also enter an exciting new phase of development for our facilities. While there are far-reaching plans the next few years, the immediate focus is on construction of the Biomedical Partnership Center. It represents an important step in the development of the Centennial Biomedical Campus – where academia, government and industry collaborate on biomedical applications for both animals and people. It is also time to refresh our CVM strategic plan. We must see to it that when the class of 2020 graduates, the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine remains a world-class institution on the cutting edge of its field, providing an exceptional education to our students, exceptional care to our patients and their owners, exceptional research that benefits both animal and human health, with our sights still focused on the limitless future possibilities for our profession. To continue reading visit: cvm.ncsu.edu/fromthedean
D. Paul Lunn Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine NC State University
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THINK & DO
Distinguished Professor, Revolutionary Research Jorge A. Piedrahita, a professor in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, has been named the Randall B. Terry Jr. Distinguished Professor in Translational Medicine. Piedrahita has been a member of the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine for 14 years, he has led the Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research for several years and has served as the director of the Comparative Medicine Institute at NC State since its inception in 2015. Piedrahita’s research focuses on stem cells, progenitor cells and the development of models for use in both human and veterinary regenerative medicine. He is the holder of several U.S. and international patents for work developed in his laboratory and is the inventor of several techniques and procedures in his field.
Dr. Piedrahita gives his ceremonial speech after receiving the Randall B. Terry Jr. Distinguished Professor award from Dean Paul Lunn.
Dr. Piedrahita has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is the author of several book chapters. He also serves on multiple editorial boards. Dr. Piedrahita is a highly sought-after speaker at national and international universities and for organizations around the world. He has also appeared as an expert on ABC, CNN, BBC Radio, NPR, and the Hispanic Radio Network. The Randall B. Terry, Jr. Distinguished Professor in Translational Medicine was established in 2015 to create a $1 million distinguished professorship at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State. The professorship is funded with $666,000 in private gift funds from the R. B. Terry Charitable Foundation and matching funds of $334,000 from the Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Tillman Scholar’s High-Flying Dreams Land at NC State Incoming NC State College of Veterinary Medicine student Amie Pflaum (class of 2020) is the kind of person who wants to change the world -- then does it. Maj. Amie Pflaum is a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with plans to become a public health veterinarian in the United States Army performing humanitarian missions in the developing world. Her dedication to service earned her a place among the 60 Tillman Scholars in the nation this year selected by the Pat Tillman Foundation. Amie was a high school senior in a suburb of Washington, D.C., in 2001 during the attacks on September 11. Determined to respond through service, she earned an ROTC scholarship to attend Wake Forest University.
“I was stationed at Fort Bragg for three years, and while there I discovered that NC State has a world-class veterinary program. It’s a powerhouse. Choosing to go there was a no-brainer.” After graduating, she was commissioned as an officer in the Army Aviation Corps as an active duty Blackhawk helicopter pilot -- a role she relished for eight years, including a tour in
Afghanistan as a platoon leader evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield. “I am passionate about flying and I love the Army,” Amie says. So why would she give up her wings to become a veterinarian? Later, serving as a company commander in Honduras, her unit provided humanitarian assistance to impoverished communities. She saw how veterinary and public health services preserve access to vital food sources and prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. Fighting hunger and sickness became a passion even more compelling than flying her beloved Blackhawk. In 2013 Amie left active duty to join the North Carolina Army National Guard -- where she still flies -- to pursue her new studies. She was accepted by no less than six colleges of veterinary medicine. After graduation, Amie plans to return to active duty as a public health veterinarian. She points out that the military is engaged in humanitarian missions all over the world, “with assets in over 150 countries.” Helping nations become self-sustaining means they become more stable -- and peaceful. So if you ever wonder what NC State’s slogan “Think and Do” really means, consider Maj. Amie Plaum exhibit “A.” She’s one of those people who make changing the world seem not so impossible after all. 2
ADVANCED CARE
Amazing Grace: World-Class Survivor Introducing the amazing Grace, a Nigerian Dwarf Goat who charms everyone she meets, and a worldclass survivor. Born two weeks premature and weighing only 1.5 pounds at birth, her owners, Jen and Rob Ruta, were already giving her special care when fate dealt Grace another blow. A llama on the Rutas’ farm inadvertently stepped on Grace’s tiny head and neck when she was only one week old, injuring her severely.
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Grace captured the hearts of those who had treated her during her time at NC State. Smitten staff members gathered to say their goodbyes as Grace and her owners were happily going home. Jen Ruta with Grace and Dr. Sarah Blackwell
Large animal intern Sarah Blackwell was on duty when little Grace was admitted to the Equine and Farm Animal Veterinary Center at NC State Veterinary Hospital. “She was comatose and unresponsive,” Dr. Blackwell recalls. The baby goat was unable to stand or urinate and was running a fever. She could take one or two breaths a minute. The outlook for recovery was uncertain. Dr. Blackwell began to reduce body fluids and relieve the pressure on Grace’s brain. The team also administered a pain medication and placed her on ice packs to reduce her fever.
On her fourth day in the hospital, Grace had a seizure and began to run a fever again. She had injuries with bleeding in both her left forebrain and the brain stem, recovery from this kind of trauma is fraught with difficulty. Adjusting the existing course of treatment proved enough to stabilize Grace and keep her improvement on track. By her sixth day, Grace was doing much better, looking alert, eating with enthusiasm and, although wobbly, showing more interest in getting up and moving.
Grace responded well to this treatment. Her spirits improved, temperature came down and breathing became more normal. But she was still in severe pain and unable to urinate without assistance; there was still no way to know if she would live. The journey over the next week for Grace, the Rutas and the medical team would be a mixed bag of progress and setbacks, hope and concern.
Eight days after Grace was admitted to the hospital, the Rutas were excited that their little goat improved enough to go home. Her weight had increased to a little over four pounds, and she was playful - even a little feisty.
Jen Ruta was the model of a concerned and engaged owner, making nearly daily visits, even bringing in supplies of milk from Grace’s mother, Peaches. “Everyone here has just been wonderful,” Jen says, “and Grace even has a little fan club.” “This is our second experience here. We brought in one of our llamas earlier. We would never go anywhere else now.”
Ironically, that day Grace was leaving was the very day she was due to be born, had she not come prematurely. In fact, we like to think it really was something of a rebirth for the little goat who wouldn’t give up.
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GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH
The Aspirin of the 21st Century A College of Veterinary Medicine scientist’s methodical research approach could completely change the way illnesses like asthma and cancer are treated.
Ken Adler is not one to overreact. So it should come as no surprise that he barely blinked an eye when research associates burst into his office in June 2013, claiming the drug Dr. Adler discovered over a decade earlier had brought some very sick mice back from the brink of death. Adler calmly told the trainees to return to the animal facility and take a video with their iPhones of the transformed mice, promising to watch it later. When he did, the cell biologist was completely amazed. The mice - which only a day earlier had been lying in their own urine, hunched over and barely breathing - were now running around the cage as if they had never been sick. Adler’s discovery could represent a new treatment for yet another life-threatening illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome. Add that to the positive results he had already seen for chronic bronchitis, asthma and cancer metastasis, and it is easy to see why Adler was a recipient of the O. Max Gardner Award “for the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.” Still, the professor of cell biology at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine takes these successes in stride. “When you get any result in a scientific experiment, the first question is always whether the result is real,” says Adler. “So you want to go back and repeat it. Once you have determined it is real, only then you can begin to feel good about it. But there isn’t real cause to celebrate until we see the results in patients.”
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Indeed, Adler says every hypothesis he has had about his groundbreaking drug, a compound targeting a protein called MARCKS that helps determine cell shape and motility, was wrong. Because of his perseverance and willingness to follow the data, the drug that has been called the “aspirin of the 21st century” is closer than ever to being used in the clinic.
This propensity to trust the evidence rather than preconceived notions of how the world should work has taken Adler down a circuitous path to a career as a basic science researcher and founder of a pharmaceutical company based on his discoveries. In 2004 Adler licensed the rights to the peptide to a startup company, BioMarck Pharmaceuticals, which jumped though all the regulatory toxicology hoops for the drug to be approved for use in humans. In theory, the drug could provide a panacea for any affliction caused by overzealous movement of cells into unwanted areas. Several experiments have shown it could stop the secretion of mucus in asthma, chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis. That iPhone video from his research associate showed the drug could interfere with the release of inflammation triggers in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a fatal illness resulting from stresses like near-drowning, pneumonia and aspiration. Recent studies have shown this approach could even block metastasis, the spread of tumor cells from one organ to the next. No available drug targets this characteristic, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths.
“The hope is that I could make it possible for a person to walk out of the hospital who might have been carried out before,” says Adler. “A lot of researchers feel that way, but not many are lucky enough to work at the bench and actually come out with a drug that can be used to save lives.” “It is almost humbling, it is so overwhelming, I have never experienced this kind of success before,” says Adler. “It is satisfying in a way when things turn out exactly as you thought, and also exhilarating when they don’t and you get to figure out why. I am sitting on something that could make a paradigm shift in the way cancer is treated. Just think how many experiments have been done where the results were thrown out because they didn’t make any sense, where if the scientists had just looked a little further it could have changed everything.”
THE NC STATE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER HONORED ADLER WITH THE DR. JOHN S. RISLEY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD.
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FROM THE HEART
Churchill’s Tribute: Outstanding Care Written by owner Christon Halkiotis
I adopted my sweet Corgi mix, Churchill, when he was 3 years old and our life together was filled with adventure, happiness, and most importantly, love. On May 1, 2015, Churchill was diagnosed with prostate cancer, an aggressive cancer in dogs with a survival rate of two months. The care received from the NC State Veterinary Hospital gave us close to six more happy months together, for which I will be forever grateful. After tests and bloodwork, we thankfully discovered we caught it in time, making Churchill a candidate for a very rare procedure in dogs – a total prostatectomy, the removal of his prostate gland. Four days after receiving the diagnosis, Churchill underwent surgery, which went very well. It wasn’t until after the surgery that Churchill’s kidneys stopped working. After aggressive but unsuccessful treatment, the doctor explained that in order for him to survive he would need hemodialysis to perform the work of his kidneys. 7
Dr. Alessio Vigani, clinical assistant professor at NC State Veterinary Hospital, decided Churchill was a good candidate for hemodialysis and we arrived at NC State Veterinary Hospital on May 7. He received three dialysis treatments over the next few days and all seemed to be going well. After dialysis, doctors noticed Churchill had developed an alarming amount of fluid in his abdomen. Our only hope was surgery – another one.
Dr. Alessio Vigani with Churchill and owner, Christon Halkiotis
At this point, Churchill had lost a lot of blood. Four units of his own blood were suctioned out during surgery, roughly half of the blood in an adult human. Churchill came through that long night and his kidneys were filtering all of the non-dialyzed blood that he had received. Churchill continued to improve until the afternoon of May 13; he was bleeding again into his abdomen. They told me there was one option left; we could transfuse packed red cells into Churchill, treat him with clotting medications or watch and wait to see what his packed cell volume (PCV) did over the course of the night. They allowed me to spend the night with Churchill on the floor of the quiet visiting room in the Intensive Care Unit. We cuddled, snuggled and slept as best we could for the next six hours. In the morning the bleeding had stopped. I could hardly believe it. I was able to take Churchill home on May 17, the day before my birthday. It was the best birthday ever. We received so many precious gifts from so many kind people. The gift that Churchill’s unrelated liver bleed happened in one of the best places in the world for it to happen. The gift that a talented team of doctors, surgeons, technicians and staff were right there to take care of him. The gift that so many kind people had brought their dogs to donate blood so there was frozen plasma available. And the gift of our emergency donor – someone
The Coat of Excellence program honors a special faculty clinician, intern, resident, or support staff member who has touched pet’s life. Your gift enables you to name a white lab coat in honor of this special person. The coat will be embroidered with the name of the recipient of the coat as well as your pet’s name. cvm.ncsu.edu/giving
selfless enough to bring their dog in at a phone call’s notice to donate blood for Churchill and me.
“The NC State Veterinary Hospital is a shining star for the state of North Carolina. I am beyond thankful they were so close and prepared for us in Churchill’s time of need with hemodialysis, surgical, ICU and canine blood bank capabilities.” If it weren’t for the incredible team at the hospital, I wouldn’t be blessed with so many of my favorite memories of Churchill. I had the opportunity to say “thank you” to Dr. Vigani a couple months ago by honoring him with a Coat of Excellence. 8
EXCEPTIONAL CARE
Giving Kayak a New Outlook on Life In honor of World Sea Turtle Day this year, we bring you the story of Kayak, a female Loggerhead Sea Turtle that was discovered lethargic and emaciated, stranded on a shoal near Topsail Beach last August. She was discovered by a group of kayakers, hence her catchy name.
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center volunteers quickly stepped in, admitting her to their hospital. A variety of reasons could have contributed to Kayak being found in such poor condition on that shoal, but most evident was that she was unable to see. Kayak had mature cataracts in both eyes making everything a blur. Being unable to see makes it tough for sea turtles to find enough food. Kayak’s cataracts would have to be addressed or she couldn’t be released, which is always the ultimate goal. However, the turtle was in such poor physical condition that even the thought of surgery wasn’t an option until her health improved. A little over five months after her rescue, Kayak traveled to the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Hospital to undergo cataract surgery. With two highly skilled teams from the Ophthalmology and Exotic Animal Medicine Services, and four hours in the operating room, Kayak’s vision was restored. After Kayak returned to the Surf City-based Beasley Center for recovery, the staff noticed a change in her attitude. Where 9
Kayak had been somewhat docile by sea turtle standards, after her cataract surgery she became considerably more rambunctious. With a new outlook on life and healthy physical condition, Kayak was released back into the ocean on June 1 with tags, just in case she is ever encountered again.
With her strength back and eyesight much improved, there’s every reason to believe that she will be happily feasting on crabs, mussels, shrimp and jellyfish in no time. She has a good chance of living her allotted 50 or more years.
SUPPORTING CARE
Michelle and Ross Annables’ Impact The Annables’ gift to NC State lies in the ripple effect it will have on animal care in North Carolina and beyond. They expect that Annable Scholars will make lifelong contributions to the veterinary profession, and to the animals, people and places they go on to serve.
Thanks to a $5 million gift from the Annables’ — and a generous one-to-one match from the R.B. Terry Charitable Foundation — many students will now receive scholarship support and powerful encouragement to serve their communities. The Annables’ know firsthand the value of world-class veterinary care. When their beloved German Shepherd, Jordan, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the couple faced a painful decision: euthanasia or complex surgery. Their vet in Charlotte recommended that Jordan undergo the necessary procedure at NC State. Jordan’s surgery was a success. Now the Annables are showing their appreciation by giving generously to the college’s teaching mission. Their $5 million donation will establish the Michele M. and Ross M. Annable Scholarship Endowment, a need-based scholarship program that covers up to half the cost of tuition and fees for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidates. The R.B. Terry Charitable Foundation will match the Annables’ gift with one-to-one funds, bringing the total value to $10 million. The foundation’s $5 million match is part of a $16 million commitment announced in 2015; matching Terry Foundation funds are also pledged for future gifts that may endow professorships or further the college’s extensive research mission.
“The idea behind this scholarship program couldn’t be truer to NC State’s Think and Do spirit, we want to attract and reward those students who have already demonstrated their commitment to serving the community. Private support helps us do that.” Randy Woodson, NC State chancellor
“This kind of generosity is truly transformational,” says D. Paul Lunn, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “The partnership between the Annables and the Terry Foundation will just have an astonishing impact.” “Our hope is that qualified students who might not otherwise have been able to attend NC State, attend,” says Ross Annable. “They graduate. They become successful veterinarians. And they return their newfound abilities to their communities.”
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NC State Veterinary Medicine NC Veterinary Medical Foundation 1060 William Moore Drive • Raleigh, NC 27607 Give Now: Use the giving envelope enclosed, (checks payable to “NCVMF”), or give online at cvm.ncsu.edu/giving. Contact Us: Giving Office: 919-513-6660 cvmfoundations@ncsu.edu The Oath is published by the NC State Veterinary Medicine Communications and Marketing office. Contact us at CVMCommunications@ncsu.edu
Think and Do NC STATE HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF EQUINE CLINICIAN SCIENTISTS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FUNDING.
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