Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) has opened a new Research and Pathology Building designed to facilitate multidisciplinary research collaborations and better allow students and faculty to address issues relating to the One Health initiative. Located on St. Kitts, an island country in the West Indies, the site is expected to further enhance the school’s research capabilities in a global capacity. Research in the new facility will allow for an improved understanding of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases (e.g. leptospirosis, dengue, chikungunya), reducing the development of antimicrobial resistance, and protection of threatened and endangered species and ecosystems in the Caribbean. Specifically, research will address sea turtle conservation and feral animal immune contraception strategies, as well as National Institutes of Health-funded research on arboviruses. “Our commitment to research is essential to the future of veterinary medicine, which will involve collaborations across multiple disciplines to address zoonotic diseases that pose devastating threats in the Caribbean region and beyond,” said Sean Callanan, Ph.D., MVB, MRCVS, CertVR, DECVP, dean at RUSVM. “The center also represents our commitment to provide our students with an innovative and advanced educational program that prepares them to become leaders within the One Health realm.” The facility creates 13,000 sf of research space, including eight laboratories. The site features 2,000 square feet dedicated to pathology, including necropsy and histology suites, along with a student viewing gallery and space for small group meetings. The research and pathology sections of the building were designed to BSL-2 biosafety standards. The building also includes the Dr. Donald F. Smith Learning Center, which is dedicated to RUSVM trustee Donald F. Smith, DVM, who died in 2016. The former dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Smith was an accomplished large animal surgeon, veterinary historian, writer, and speaker. The Research and Pathology Building represents a USD $10.5-million investment in the educational programs at RUSVM.
