Elena Conteras, DVM, MS, PhD (Cluster Lead)

Dr. Contreras’s clinical research focuses on assessing and characterizing positive and negative affective states, stress, motivation, and welfare in non-human 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.

[Publications] | [Contact]

Peter DiGeronimo, VMD, MSc, DACZM, DACCM

Dr. DiGeronimo's research focuses on diagnostics and interventions for non-domestic species under managed care. Using both retrospective and prospective experimental designs, he investigates the application of clinical pathology to zoological medicine, risk factors associated with disease in under studied species, and the epidemiology of parasitic, other infectious, and toxicologic diseases of wildlife. The objective of his research is to improve evidence-based clinical decision-making and to place clinical medicine in broader ecological contexts with the ultimate goal of promoting the conservation of biodiversity and improving animal health and welfare.  

[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.

[Publications] | [Contact]

Margaret Fordham, DVM, MSc, VetEd

Dr. Fordham’s clinical research 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.

[Publications] | [Contact]

Samantha Kochie, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Kochie is a veterinary cardiologist; her clinical research focuses on advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of cardiovascular disease in companion animals through clinically applicable and patient-centered research. Areas of interest include cardiac imaging, arrhythmia management, and congenital heart disease, with an emphasis on applying advancements and perspectives from human cardiology to improve the care of veterinary patients.

[Publications] | [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.

[Publications] | [Contact]

Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, DABVP (Canine/Feline)

Dr. Krebs's clinical research focuses on improving companion animal health through advances in clinical care, preventative medicine, and veterinary communication. Her ongoing studies include recognition and treatment of chronic pain and osteoarthritis in cats, vaccine utilization and vaccine hesitancy among pet owners, and ways to improve medical record writing efficiency for veterinary practitioners. She has also done work within the spectrum of care and access to care fields of veterinary practice. Collectively, these research efforts aim to improve access to veterinary care, promote equitable and client-centered healthcare delivery, and support high standards of animal health and welfare.

[Contact]

Laura Mancuso, VMD, DACVO^®

Throughout her career in veterinary ophthalmology, Dr. Mancuso has focused her clinical research primarily on surgical advancements for canine cataracts, investigating the perioperative efficacy of intracameral tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) and intravitreal triamcinolone-moxifloxacin. She also has interest in furthering procedural and surgical management options for feline diffuse iris melanoma.

[Publications] [Contact]

Barbara Maton, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Maton’s clinical research interests include trauma, coagulopathies and anticoagulant therapies, toxicities, and resuscitation medicine (CPCR/ Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation).

[Publications] [Contact]

Neil S. Mittelman, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM, Neurology)

Dr. Mittelman’s clinical research interests include comparative neurology and neurosurgery including improving diagnosis via gait analysis and improving the neurological examination, surgical correction and management of disorders of the spinal cord, medical management of inflammatory and infectious causes of meningitis and meningoencephalitis and seizure treatment. Current projects include gait analysis in the dog to improve neurolocalization and a collaborative project using hoof-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) to objectively measure gait variability in horses with general proprioceptive ataxia.  

[Publications] | [Contact]

Nora Jean Nealon, DVM, PhD

Dr. Nealon studies the gut microbiome in companion animals. She has a particular interest in how nutrition and antibiotic use impact patient health and clinical disease management. She additionally investigates how probiotics ("good bacteria") and fecal microbiota transplant "(poop pills") impact patient health, including in obesity management and urinary tract infections.

[Publications] | [Contact]

Arianna Negrin, DVM, PhD, MSE, DECVN, MRCVS

Dr. Negrin’s research interests include Feline Encephalomyelitis, Meningoencephalitis of Unknown origin in cats, and Spinal shock in veterinary medicine.

[Publications] [Contact]

Liz Perry, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM)

Dr. Perry’s clinical research interests focus on all areas of equine anatomy.

[Publications] [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

[Publications] [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.

[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.

[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.

[Contact]