Phi Zeta presents research awards

Phi Zeta, the international honor society of veterinary medicine, recently presented awards to authors of two research manuscripts among submissions from the Phi Zeta chapters at 30 U.S. and two Caribbean veterinary colleges. Established in 1978, the awards consist of a plaque and a $1,000 check.

The basic sciences award went to Dr. Jamie Stewart (Illinois '13) at the Mu chapter of Phi Zeta at the University of Illinois. Her winning paper was "Nerve growth factor-beta, purified from bull seminal plasma, enhances corpus luteum formation and conceptus development in Bos taurus cows" (Theriogenology 2018;106:30-38).

Dr. Stewart recently completed a food animal internship and theriogenology residency at the University of Illinois. She is pursuing her doctorate in comparative biosciences at the university, due for completion this fall, and is slated to join the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor in production management medicine. Dr. Stewart's research focuses on evaluating the role of a seminal plasma protein, nerve growth factor-beta, on fertility in ruminants, as well as improving reproductive technologies in captive white-tailed deer. Her clinical interests include performing advanced reproductive techniques, such as semen cryopreservation and laparoscopic artificial insemination, in goats, sheep, and deer.

The clinical sciences award was presented to Dr. M.L. Byrum (Illinois '16) at the Mu chapter of Phi Zeta at the University of Illinois. His winning paper was "Downregulation of CXCR4 expression and functionality after zoledronate exposure in canine osteosarcoma" (J Vet Intern Med 2016;30:1187-1196).

Dr. Byrum completed a small animal rotating internship at Purdue University in 2017 and is a medical oncology resident at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on molecular signaling of cancer and finding novel agents to perturb progression of cancer in dogs and cats.