TVMF Research Scholars presented their research findings at the 2026 TVMA Annual Conference & Expo. Generous support of the TVMF Research Scholars program makes it possible for these students to attain top-notch, once-in-a-lifetime research experience that will shape the trajectory of their careers.

Read more about each student and their research below!

Charles Lee, TAMU-VMBS Class of 2028, is from McAllen and describes himself as a researcher, leader and equestrian. Charles, also a long-distance runner, is most interested in equine veterinary medicine, specifically caring for racehorses and western performance horses.

Charles’s research project focused on how to improve the way veterinarians deliver inhaled medications to horses with equine asthma, addressing inconsistencies of the practice and administration of drugs using a nebulizer. Charles worked in the Legere Laboratory for Equine & Veterinary Innovation (LLEVI) studying how different settings of the Flexineb E3 nebulizer affect the mist of two corticosteroid solutions used to treat horses with asthma.

“We tested 12 different combinations of settings, including two cup designs, three power levels and the use or non-use of a spacer,” he explained. “We then collected the aerosolized drug using a breathing simulator and measured the droplet size, density and how much active drug remained after nebulization.”

The research findings showed how different settings produced a variety of droplet sizes, how each drug responded to nebulization, the effectiveness of faster settings and how dilution affects the stability of the medication.

As the first systematic study of how equine nebulizer settings affect inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, Charles’s research findings have been shared at both national and international conferences with multiple poster and talk presentations. He also currently is preparing a manuscript for publication.

Charles described his main three takeaways: (1) An appreciation of research to illuminate unanswered questions in the veterinary profession and how to contribute to advancing it; (2) A strengthened passion for optimizing laboratory research for clinical application, generating new technologies for accessible and advanced care; and (3) A valuable experience in communicating science to diverse audiences.

“I am deeply appreciative of your generosity in making this experience possible for me,” Charles said. “I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to work on an important medical challenge in equine medicine and to contribute to the veterinary profession in a meaningful way. This experience has been illuminating, and it has motivated me to continue making strides in developing new ways to keep our horses happy and healthy.”

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Jaedyn Johnson, TTU-SVM Class of 2027, is from Hereford and is most interested in studying dairy production medicine and small ruminant medicine. Jaedyn and her husband love to travel and hike, and she hopes to visit every national park in her lifetime. Horses are her escape, and Jaedyn spends her summers with them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

 Jaedyn’s research project focused on ketoprofen, often used by dairy producers because of its ease of administration and low risk of tissue reactivity. Currently, there are no milk residue studies to evaluate the clearance of ketoprofen in a lactating animal. Jaedyn’s research, however, filled this gap and determined there was not a detectable level of ketoprofen in the milk 12 hours post-administration when given a single subcutaneous dose of the drug.

“We hope to use this information to develop better withdrawal recommendations and provide both veterinarians and producers with more evidence-based resources when choosing an NSAID for their lactating goats,” Jaedyn said.

Jaedyn reflected on the opportunity to participate in the summer research program, describing how it impacted her understanding of veterinary research in a significant way.

“I did not realize the sheer amount of finances, resources and manpower that it takes to make these projects happen,” she said.  “While I do not plan to go into research full-time for my career, this was a very valuable learning experience. Thank you so much for the opportunity to see how much time, effort and resources that go into researching advancements in veterinary medicine. I truly have a new appreciation for all the teamwork and collaboration that makes this happen!”

This project was presented on behalf of Jaedyn by Hailee Conley, TTU-SVM Class of 2027, at the TVMA Annual Conference & Expo. Hailee is from Smithville and enjoys hiking, travelling, reading and antiquing. Hailee plans to practice mixed-animal veterinary medicine with an emphasis on large animals.

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Kaitlyn Morales, TAMU-VMBS Class of 2028, is from Austin. Following her summer research project, she has a newfound interest in small animal specialty medicine. A physiology tutor, Kaitlyn loves exotics and has enjoyed volunteering for wildlife centers. In her free time, her hobbies are crocheting and watching Aggie football.

Kaitlyn’s research project included a collaboration between Texas A&M Biomedical Engineering and the Soft Tissue Surgery Department at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital. In search of a non-invasive, objective technique for monitoring wound healing, Kaitlyn’s study focused on an optical imaging method called multispectral imaging (MSI). MSI measures the light absorbance of tissue at different wavelengths (or colors) of light, leading the team to hypothesize that the light absorbance data will characterize changes in the wound tissue as a wound heals. Utilized in some human studies, this method is used very little in veterinary medicine.

“Dogs that were undergoing wound care treatments in Soft Tissue Surgery were imaged during their bandage changes,” Kaitlyn explained. “Healing incision sites from abdominal surgery patients were also imaged at two different time points.”

Their imaging system, nicknamed “MultiMutt,” measured absorbance values at 12 wavelengths of light in the visible and near infrared spectrums. Healthy tissue showed little variability in light absorbance over time, but healing wound tissue marked a notable increase in absorbance.

“In the beginning of wound healing, the tissue is a bright red color,” she said. “As the tissue heals, it becomes more of a pink color, absorbing less of the green light. This highlights the possibility of utilizing MSI to estimate the stage of the wound and even guide clinical treatment plans in the future.”

Kaitlyn says she had little research experience before joining the TAMU-VMBS Veterinary Medical Scholars Research Training Program (VMSRTP). However, her positive experience learning at the lab broadened her skillset, exposed her to complex technology and enhanced her critical thinking to relate her findings back to the clinic floor. Kaitlyn has a greater understanding for the importance of multiple disciplines, in this case engineering and veterinary medicine, coming together to advance the veterinary profession.

“Thank you for your generosity in supporting my research this past summer,” Kaitlyn said. “This research experience has meant a lot to me and has really solidified my interest in specialty veterinary medicine. Being at the forefront of technological advances to improve care for our beloved pets has been very impactful in my veterinary journey. Your generosity has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and collaborate with engineers that are vital for improving medical technology.”

Did you enjoy reading about these projects? Please consider supporting the TVMF Research Scholars and their education by donating today! Visit tvmf.org/Donate or give us a call at 512-452-4224.