Research

Early in his career at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Philip Kass received an unexpected visit from Dr. Peter Pascoe, an anesthesiologist with a troubling question. Several dogs had developed acute kidney failure after routine surgeries, and no one could explain why.

Now in its third year, the Reaching Across the Causeway (RAC) Symposium held on October 8 brought together RAC awardees in addition to new faculty and other guest speakers. Every year, the UC Davis Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine rotate in hosting an annual symposium that provides an opportunity for "cross-causeway" networking and engagement.

In recent decades, the global landscape of health has shifted dramatically. Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity and emerging zoonotic diseases have highlighted intricate connections between animals, humans and the environment, underscoring the fact that veterinary medicine is not just about the care of animals — it is essential to the health of people and the planet.

UC Davis Health’s Department of Internal Medicine and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have been jointly awarded an R38 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The grant will support the development of the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StaRR) Program, which intends to boost the pipeline of physician- and veterinarian-scientists. The new program will provide research opportunities for veterinary residents and human internal medicine residents specializing in pulmonary, hematology and cardiovascular medicine.

Several members of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures (VIRC) lectured at the 2025 North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association (NAVRMA) Conference, including keynote addresses. The 3-day conference is a gathering of some of the leading minds in stem cell and other regenerative medicine research in veterinary and human medicine.

A third round of funding for Reaching Across the Causeway Awards was recently announced by the Associate Dean of Research of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Vice Dean for Research of the School of Medicine, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC).

Feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP, is a serious and historically fatal disease in cats caused by a coronavirus. It behaves in many ways like severe coronavirus infections in humans, causing widespread inflammation, T cell exhaustion and chronic immune dysfunction. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found that mesenchymal stromal cells, or MSC therapy, in combination with antiviral drugs, helped cats’ immune systems recover and reduced systemic inflammation.

Dr. Lynette Hart has studied everything from rodent songs to elephant tool use to giraffe courtship. Now, after more than four decades at UC Davis, the pioneering professor has officially retired—though it’s clear her influence will continue to ripple through the field of human-animal interactions.

Resident researchers were recognized and applauded at the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, during an awards luncheon on June 20, 2025. The special event was sponsored by Purina Institute with many of the winners in attendance. The winning abstracts were among the research presented to ACVIM Forum attendees throughout the conference.

Among those selected from UC Davis are:

Since the university’s inception in 1908, faculty and students at UC Davis have pushed the boundaries of knowledge to deliver discoveries that not only enrich lives but also drive economic growth, prosperity and security in California and throughout our nation.

Our research shapes industries, creates well-paying jobs and prepares the next generation of leaders and innovators.

We deliver breakthroughs that advance healthcare, our food supply, energy solutions, education and more.