Clinical Research Cluster
Clinical Research Cluster
Advancing Medicine Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Global Industry Partnerships
Cluster Overview
The Clinical Research Cluster gathers clinicians, technicians, and veterinary assistants from the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine to collaborate on projects of importance to both clinical medicine in companion, exotic, and large animal species, as well as to the faculty, staff, and student population learning to practice the art of medicine on the clinic floor. Our work focuses on prospective and retrospective research, cage-side and client-side research, and pilot studies and clinical trials that are partnered with some of the world’s leaders in the development of novel therapeutics. Through the interaction of clinicians, technicians, and assistants from all areas of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Biomedical Sciences Department, we aim to improve access to care, accelerate novel surgical and medical therapeutic development across species, and advance the understanding of health and well-being in our patient, client, staff, and student populations. This cluster is the heart of clinical innovation within the SSVM, and fosters growth and collaboration with other veterinarians and researchers across the Rowan University campus, throughout other veterinary school campuses across the world, and across the veterinary and physician-lead medical industry sectors.
Core Research Themes
- Pilot Studies and Clinical Trials: Investigate novel medications, procedures, and treatments for the well-being of our patients, to provide access to care, and to advance the field of medicine.
- Collaborative Partnership: Members will utilize and rely upon the skills and talents of other faculty members and staff to identify new areas for problem-solving, and new solutions. Members will also seek to utilize resources provided by Rowan University outside of Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine whenever needed and possible.
- All-Species Access: Clinical research will be sought out and provided for all species: Companion animals, zoo and exotic animals, wildlife, equine, and food and fiber animals. Application to the human species will be considered whenever possible.
- Discovery and Shareability: Knowledge gained and learned will be presented at conferences, and published in journals to advance the field of medicine, and encourage additional breakthroughs.
- Data accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility: Members will hold their research to the highest standards, ensuring that data is reproducible prior to publication, that a statistician is consulted in advance of beginning a project, and that the well-being of an animal is always paramount to any research that is performed.
Meet the Team
Maged Abdelmalak, PharmD, RPH
Dr. Abdelmalak is a pharmacist with clinical interests and extensive experience across human and veterinary pharmacy practice, sterile and non-sterile compounding, hospital operations, controlled substance management, and regulatory compliance. He is particularly interested in the medical treatment of glaucoma.
Expertise: Pharmacy, Compounding, Patient Care, Controlled Substances, Glaucoma
[Contact]
Mohadeseh Abouhosseini Tabari, DVM, PhD
Dr. Tabari’s research focuses on developing and optimizing novel therapeutics for animal and human health. Her work integrates veterinary pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug delivery systems, and animal models to identify new therapeutic targets and improve treatment efficacy and safety. She has experience translating mechanistic discoveries into practical, evidence-based therapeutic strategies across veterinary and biomedical applications.
Expertise: Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Drug Delivery Systems, Novel Therapeutics
[Publications] | [Contact]
Stacy Bartholomew-Massaro, VMD
Dr. Bartholomew-Massaro’s clinical interests are diverse, and include feline home behavioral issues (house soiling, inter-cat tension, undesirable scratching, and general home environmental enrichment), and teaching the profession to glean more of the necessary details through historical data (in the clinic) to make recommendations to owners regarding the home environment.
Expertise: Feline Home Behavioral Health, Home Health Environment
[Contact]
Elena Conteras, DVM, MS, PhD
Dr. Contreras’s clinical research focuses on assessing and characterizing positive and negative affective states, stress, motivation, and welfare in animals through behavioral observation, ethograms, physiologic indicators, potential biomarkers such as hair and nail cortisol, and non-invasive EEG. Her clinical research with companion and farmed animal species aims to improve evidence-based welfare assessment and clinical decision-making in veterinary settings. Her previous research focused on novel preventive and treatment measures for feline upper respiratory tract infection.
Expertise: Animal Welfare, Veterinary Behavior, Veterinary Ethics, Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Disease, Clinical Research Methodology
[Publications] | [Contact]
Chrissy Eckstrand, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Dr. Eckstrand’s clinical research interests within pathology include virology, specifically feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). She also enjoys correlations between anatomic pathology and clinical disease, as well as ophthalmic histopathology. Dr. Eckstrand participated in the clinical development of the medications used to treat FIP in cats and COVID-19 in humans.
Expertise: Anatomy, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Virology, Ophthalmic Pathology
[Publications] | [Contact]
Jessica Ennis, DVM, CVA
Dr. Ennis is interested in high-quality preventative medicine, emphasizing a “whole body approach” that includes a focus on behavioral health and low-stress handling techniques. She is also interested in effective communication, team leadership and culture development within the clinical setting.
Expertise: Preventative Medicine, Whole Body, Behavioral Health, Low-Stress, Communication
[Contact]
Margaret Fordham, DVM, MSc, VetEd
Dr. Fordham’s clinical interests include veterinary education and experiential learning, diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine, exotic pet medicine and surgery, emergency exotic pet medicine and surgery, and exotic animal anesthesia.
Expertise: Education, Exotic Pet, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Surgery, Medicine
[Publications] | [Contact]
Meghan Jaskot, DVM
Dr. Jaskot is brand new to the world of research and is excited to begin her journey as a Co-PI on projects with some of Shreiber SSVM's more seasoned faculty. As one of Shreiber SSVM's Primary Care Clinicians, I will be assisting Dr. Katie Krebs' with her research project titled: Evaluating Efficiency of Veterinary Medical Record Documentation Methods. In this study, we will be comparing the efficiency of different medical record documenting modalities. I also have strong interests in companion animal dental care, weight management, behavior, and in improving preventative medicine strategies.
Expertise: Dental Care, Weight Management, Behavior, Preventative Medicine, Medical Records
[Contact]
Christine Jones, LVT, VTS (Ophthalmology)
Christine is one of the first and only board-certified veterinary technicians in the field of veterinary ophthalmology in the world! She has a special interest in Client Education. She feels this means not only helping a client with the treatment of their pet but also helping them fully understand why a treatment plan is necessary to provide the best care and outcome. She also is very interested in incorporating pain management and spectrum of care alternatives for her patients to keep them most comfortable and/or prioritize their overall health. She is a self-proclaimed “cataract coach” for owners who have a strong interest in cataract surgery for their pet. She works closely with the owner, ophthalmologist, and primary care veterinarian to get a pet to be the best surgical candidate possible. This increases their chance of a successful and extremely rewarding surgery. Lastly, she wants to help be an advocate for better mental health in the veterinary profession. She believes self-care is the first step to being able to provide quality care to our patients and clients.
Expertise: Ophthalmology Technician, Pain Management, Cataract, Spectrum of Care, Mental Health
[Contact]
Sandra Keys, CVT
Sandy is interested in veterinary clinical research at the Shreiber School alongside faculty, staff, and students, with a special interest in preventative medicine.
Expertise: Preventative Medicine
[Contact]
Kavitha Kongara, BVSc, MVSc, PHD, FHEA
Dr. Kongara’s research focuses on addressing critical questions related to pain mechanisms, recognition, assessment, and management in both small and large animals. With a robust background in pain physiology, pharmacology, and clinical research, Dr. Kongara dedicates her work to advancing the field of pain management in animals.
Expertise: Pain Management, Small, Large, Pain Mechanisms
[Publications] | [Contact]
Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, DABVP (Canine/Feline)
Dr. Kreb’s clinical interests include preventative medicine, contextualized care, infectious
diseases and parasitology, and pain management (especially of osteoarthritis in cats). Her teaching and research interests include access to care and telehealth, preventative medicine, and business education for veterinary students. Additionally, Dr. Krebs is one of only a few bee veterinarians in the country and is passionate about educating the veterinary community about bee medicine.
Expertise: Preventative Medicine, Honeybee Medicine, Parasitology, Infectious Disease, Pain Management, Osteoarthritis, Telehealth
[Contact]
Barbara Maton, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Maton’s clinical passions include CPR medicine, electrolyte derangements, and trauma.
Expertise: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Electrolytes, Trauma
[Contact]
Kristen McCurdy, BVM&S
Dr. McCurdy’s primary clinical interests relate to the development of teaching models and novel equine and large animal joint therapies.
Expertise: Joint Therapy, Teaching Models
[Contact]
Neil S. Mittelman, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM, Neurology)
Dr. Mittelman’s clinical interests include surgical correction and management of disorders of the spinal cord, inflammatory and infectious causes of meningitis and meningoencephalitis, as well as seizure management.
Expertise: Seizures, Spinal Cord, Meningitis, Meningoencephalitis
[Publications] | [Contact]
Kristen Morris-Green, BS, LVT
Kristen is interested in veterinary clinical research at the Shreiber School alongside faculty, staff, and students, with special interests in ophthalmology and dermatology.
Expertise: Ophthalmology, Dermatology
[Contact]
Nora Jean Nealon, DVM, PhD
Dr. Nealon's clinical research expertise includes companion animal clinical nutrition and gastroenterology across the spectrum of infectious and chronic diseases (obesity, cancer). She has a special interest in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for companion animals, including improving the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of FMT for veterinary patients and exploring the impact of FMT on the gut-bladder axis.
Expertise: Nutrition, Gastroenterology, Obesity, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
[Publications] | [Contact]
Shannon Painter, CVT
Shannon is interested in veterinary clinical research at the Shreiber School alongside faculty, staff, and students, with a special interest in preventative medicine.
Expertise: Preventative Medicine
[Contact]
Liz Perry, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM)
Dr. Perry’s clinical research interests focus on all areas of equine anatomy.
Expertise: Equine Anatomy
[Contact]
Patrick Reilly, GradDip. Equine Locomotor Research
Mr. Reilly’s clinical research interests include equine podiatry, equine locomotion, equine prosthetics, and the development of academic degree programs for farriers in the United States through Rowan University.
Expertise: Equine Podiatry, Equine Locomotion, Equine Prosthetics
[Contact]
Erin Sagan
Erin’s clinical research interests are focused on the prevalence, spread, and transmission of diseases within animal shelter facilities.
Expertise: Animal Shelter, Disease Transmission
[Contact]
Stephanie Tash
Stephanie is interested in all aspects of clinical drug trials.
Expertise: Clinical Drug Trials
[Contact]
Omar Tliba, DVM, MSc, PhD
Dr. Tliba’s clinical research interests include independent and collaborative research in lung and inflammatory diseases, particularly in the area of allergic diseases and asthma (particularly in cats and horses). In the last 22 years, he has been conducting airway inflammation-related research and specifically investigated certain pharmacological aspects of pulmonary diseases. He has been awarded several prestigious multiple years grants from foundations such as the Parker B. Francis Fellowship and American Lung Association, as well as the National Institute of Health (NIH) including K99/R00 (5 years), R21 (2 years), and R01 (11 years) and has served as a reviewer for multiple NIH foundations (both national and international) grant review panels.
Expertise: Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, Airway Inflammation, Airway Pharmacology
[Publications] | [Contact]
Koranda Walsh, VMD, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP (CP)
Dr. Walsh’s clinical research interests focus on psychological safety, feedback, and communication in veterinary medicine and education.
Expertise: Psychological Safety, Feedback, Communication, Education
[Publications] | [Contact]
Kirsten White, DVM
Dr. White’s current clinical research interests include vaccine hesitancy, chronic kidney disease markers, surgical models and their use in pre-clinical training, communication training in euthanasia, hospital associated behavior and impacts of social determinants of health, and veterinary forensics.
Expertise: Vaccine, Chronic Kidney Disease, Surgical Models, Euthanasia, Behavior, Forensics
[Contact]
Andrea Winkel, DVM, MPH
Dr. Winkel’s clinical interests include advancing medical and pharmacological approaches for exotic species, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular disease, infectious disease management, and analgesic therapy. Her ongoing projects include evaluating the use of pentoxifylline for the treatment of atherosclerosis in psittacines and rabbits, exploring paromomycin as a therapeutic option for cryptosporidiosis in hognose snakes, and assessing the behavioral and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic effects of gabapentin in chickens.
Expertise: Exotics, Cardiovascular Disease, Infectious Diseases, Analgesia
[Publications] | [Contact]
Featured Research Projects
Evaluating Efficiency of Veterinary Medical Record Documentation Methods
Lead: Dr. Katie Krebs
Jess Ennis, Meghan Jaskot, and Stacy BartholomewDeep Learning Ophthalmic Ultrasound Imaging: Exploring Pixel Intensity Mapping of Vitreous Ultrasound Images Using r-Algo: In-House Written Software.
Lead: Dr. Bahareh Ahmadi
Ana Caceres, John Ekakoro
Facilities and Resources
The Clinical Research cluster leverages the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine clinical faculty, staff, clients, and patients, as well as state-of-the-art wet and dry lab resources, and modern statistical and computational tools to enhance discovery in animal, human, and environmental health.
Current Opportunities
Summer Research Experience: Open to veterinary, graduate, and undergraduate students interested in Clinical Research.
Open Positions: Contact faculty for details on available clinical research projects.
Contact
For inquiries about research, training, or partnerships, please contact Dr. Omar Tliba.
