DENVER/August 21, 2026 — Morris Animal Foundation has awarded grants to 20 veterinary students around the world in the newest cycle of its Veterinary Student Scholar program. Each scholar receives up to $5,500 to carry out mentor-guided research, gaining early hands-on experience that helps set them on the path toward careers in animal health science and veterinary medicine.
Program Overview
The Veterinary Student Scholar program is open to students in good standing at accredited veterinary schools. It offers hands-on research experience, pairing students with expert mentors across a wide range of animal health disciplines. Since its inception in 2005, the program has supported more than 600 students.
"Behind every one of these projects is a student willing to chase a hard question, and a mentor ready to guide them through it," said Dr. Kelly Diehl, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Director of Scientific Programs at Morris Animal Foundation. "That kind of curiosity is where great careers begin. We are proud to invest in students who will go on to improve the health of the animals we love, wherever their work takes them."
Global Reach of Scholars
This cycle's scholars are training at veterinary schools across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia, a reminder that meaningful animal health research knows no borders. Countries represented include Australia, Grenada, Ireland, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Research Topics Spotlight
Across this group, the projects benefit companion animals, working animals and wildlife. Scholars are investigating infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance in dogs and horses, canine cancer, orthopedic surgery, and the welfare of working donkeys and horses. Others are turning to zoo and wildlife species, from sedation and disease surveillance in zebras, gibbons and captive birds to immune health in fur seals and better emergency care for injured parrots.
Morris Animal Foundation's newest Veterinary Student Scholars are:
- Asmau Aminu Anka — Associations Between the Canine Gut Microbiome and Anthelmintic Treatment Response in Ancylostoma Caninum-Infected Dogs, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
- Wariz Gbolagade — Prevalence and Molecular Epidemiology of Selected Enteropathogenic Bacteria in Captive Wild Birds in Nigerian Zoological Gardens, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Jiwon Ha — Effects of Tibial Shape, Plate Shape and Plate Orientation on Tibial Plateau Rock-Back Following TPLO Using a Tibial Gap Model Under Cyclic Testing, Cornell University
- Aliyu Hassan Hamza — Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns and Clinical Predictors of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius in Dogs With Superficial Pyoderma in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, University of Abuja, Nigeria
- Matisho Kabanya — Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Farmers Regarding the Health, Performance and Welfare Implications of Oxcart Harness Use on Working Donkeys in Geita, Tanzania, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
- Caeleigh Lancaster — Establishing Patient-Derived 3D Tumoroid Models for Canine Hemangiosarcoma, Oklahoma State University
- Cheuk Yin Law — Development of a 3D Cell Culture System for Equine Tendon Microvascular Cells, The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom
- Elias Nsengiyumva — Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Dogs in Kigali City, Rwanda: A One Health Approach, University of Rwanda, Rwanda
- Abdulrahman Odukoya — Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterisation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Horses in South West Nigeria, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria
- Sarah Onireti — Haematological Profiling and Molecular Detection of Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 4 in Horses in Kwara and Niger States, Nigeria, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
- Dikshya Paudel — Isolation and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Bacterial Isolates From Canine Superficial Pyoderma in Free-Roaming and Clinic-Presenting Dogs of Kathmandu, Nepal, HICAST, Nepal
- Tara Bahadur Pun — Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of ESBL-Producing Escherichia Coli in Dogs in Chitwan District, Nepal, Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal
- Toni Rabasco — Integrated Epidemiologic, Diagnostic and Vaccine Validation Study of Hepatitis B Virus in Gibbons, University of Pennsylvania
- Samantha Ross — Comparative Analysis of Subcutaneous and Oral Fluid Therapy in Wild Australian Psittacines on Admission to a Dedicated Wildlife Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia
- Musa Ismail Ruwa — Molecular Epidemiology of Canine Herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) and Associated Risk Factors in the Dog Population of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
- Gabriel Springer — Is an Azaperone-Haloperidol Combination or Water-based Perphenazine More Effective as a Tranquilizer for In-situ Monitoring and Welfare of Burchell’s Zebra Undergoing Transport and Quarantine?, The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom
- Sydney Stephens — Ontogeny and Inflammation Shape Protective Nasal IgA in a Wild Marine Mammal, St. George's University, Grenada
- Aoife Treacy — Associations Between Breeding Season Management, Welfare and Reproductive Function in Thoroughbred Stallions, University College Dublin, Ireland
- Pneuma Ujam — Molecular Surveillance of Equine Piroplasmosis and Dourine in Trade Horses in a Region With Poor Veterinary Care, University of Nigeria, Nigeria
- Muhibbah Yunusa — Prevalence and Molecular Detection of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase (ESBL) Expression in Escherichia Coli Isolates From Horses in Nigeria: Multi-Drug Resistance Profile, University of Abuja, Nigeria
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation's mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, investing more than $170 million in 3,200+ critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Washington
