Bowen named recipient of 2020 AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award
(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) Aug. 20, 2020—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today honored Dr. Richard Bowen as the winner of the 2020 AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award.
Established in November 2005, this award was proposed by the Council on Research to recognize a veterinary researcher on the basis of lifetime achievement in basic, applied or clinical research. Winners are selected on the total impact their career has had on the veterinary or biomedical professions.
“Dr. Bowen’s career as a scientist and instructor has informed many areas of veterinary medicine while leading our next generations of veterinarians,” said Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the AVMA. “His research, particularly into infectious disease, has had critical, real-world implications, as we’ve seen this year firsthand.”
Dr. Bowen’s research currently focuses on viral diseases that affect wild and domestic animals and transfer into human populations.
He received his DVM, master’s and PhD from Colorado State University and began his career there as a clinician working on bovine embryo transfer and bull reproduction. He gradually transitioned his research into infectious disease, and currently works with a broad range of pathogens to study disease pathogenesis and evaluate countermeasures for mitigating bacterial and viral infections.
His current projects include research into West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis, evaluating the potential role of bats in transmission of viruses, and understanding human-animal interaction in relation to avian influenza viruses.
He also serves as director of the Animal Models Core, supervising numerous trials to evaluate vaccines and therapeutics to protect against a broad range of pathogens.
The Lifetime Excellence in Research Award is open to any veterinarian, either retired from or currently working in an academic, government, private, or public institution, or in clinical practice. The honoree will receive $5,000 and a crystal award.
For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell) or msanfilippo
avma [dot] orgtarget="_blank".
Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.