Comparative medicine employs complex animal models in increasingly sophisticated experimental paradigms in order to achieve advances in biomedical and behavioral sciences.  Scientists in the field of comparative medicine are involved in the characterization of complex interactions in animal-based experimentation, and development and refinement of animal models and experimental methods.  It is here where veterinarians, with their broad knowledge of numerous animal species and their whole animal perspective, have a unique potential to contribute.

Research training in the CMP provides a substantive foundation for a competitive research career through: a) course work and seminars that give a broad exposure to biomedical sciences and comparative medicine, b) an intense research experience with state-of-the-art experimental methodology, and c) increasingly independent experience in every stage of the scientific research process.

Research training at MU: MU is one of only a few campuses in the U.S. that has schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture, along with strong programs in basic biological and physical sciences.  The combination of our research faculty, facilities, and related resources provides an exceptional training experience in animal-based biomedical research. Trainees receive research training from outstanding research faculty with nationally recognized research programs in a variety of biomedical fields.

Research faculty: Over thirty outstanding, well-funded research faculty on this campus serve as mentors for trainees in the CMP. These potential research mentors represent 12 different departments. The diverse expertise of prospective research mentors allows trainees the benefit of choosing a project which will match their own research interests. Specific opportunities for research are discussed under Research Mentors.

Trainee Research: Trainees will be involved in all facets of the selected research project. The trainee, with the advice of the research mentor, defines a research focus and direction.  Literature searches on related research and applicable technologies are performed, and initial experiments are planned. The trainee learns and adapts appropriate experimental techniques, performs the experiments, compiles and analyzes the data, and prepares presentations and manuscripts describing project results. The trainee then proposes, plans, and executes additional experiments based on the project results. As individuals advance, they are given increasing responsibility for planning and designing experiments and trouble-shooting problems.  All of these experiences combine to give trainees skills critical to becoming a successful researcher.  Training culminates with 1) a manuscript (for the MS degree) or preparation of a dissertation (for the PhD degree), 2) defense of the thesis/dissertation work to the trainee's graduate committee, and 3) submission of one or more manuscripts for publication. Research findings will also be presented at regional and national scientific meetings.

Research with Genetically-engineered animals: Genetically-engineered mice (GEM) and rats have recently emerged as powerful research tools in studies of the molecular basis of human disease. Because of the enormous potential of genetically-engineered rodents, thousands of mutant mouse models have been created.  It is expected that these numbers will continue to increase dramatically as scientists further exploit the power of GEM. Unfortunately, the vast potential of many GEM models has not been fully realized because very few investigators possess the skills needed to thoroughly characterize these mutant mice. Additional individuals trained in mouse pathobiology are critically needed by the scientific community. Several participating faculty are currently engaged in research characterizing genetically-engineered rodent models. Incorporation of this research area into the CMP provides many additional areas of research in which trainees can participate and will result in individuals who are trained in mouse pathobiology and capable of meeting the critical need for investigators who can characterize GEM models. Furthermore, Mutant Mouse and Rat Resource Research Centers have been established on this campus, as a collaborative effort. These centers bring several new technologies to this campus, including knockout technology for rats, improved efficiencies for rodent transgenesis, genotyping and phenotyping cores, rodent rederivation and cryobiology services.

Research Resources: Trainees have access to abundant resources, well-funded research mentors, and state-of-the-art research facilities that will provide for an exceptional research experience. Research is performed in well-equipped, modern molecular biology/biomedical laboratories. Many of the laboratories of the research faculty have been recently renovated. These facilities include research laboratories in Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Pathobiology), School of Medicine (Medical Microbiology and Immunology), Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and the VA hospital. The University of Missouri's commitment to biomedical research is evident by the internal funding of eight core facilities that provide excellent equipment and the expertise required for modern research while keeping costs at reasonable levels for MU researchers.