Advancing the future of animal health requires more than scientific excellence, it also requires connection. At the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium, held Aug. 6–8 in Raleigh, North Carolina, connections came to life as more than 500 veterinary students joined researchers and other industry leaders from over three dozen top veterinary schools to share and explore research from some of the field’s most promising emerging veterinary scientists.

Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and organized by the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, the annual symposium marks the culmination of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. For nearly 40 years, the program’s hands-on biomedical research experience has helped develop scientific talent and strengthen a global network of dedicated animal and human health scientists.

From this year’s cohort, two researchers were recognized for their contributions to advancing veterinary science: Isha Chauhan, a DVM/PhD student at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students, and Kevin Gustafson, DVM, PhD, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, established in 1989, is one of the most prestigious programs introducing first- and second-year veterinary students to biomedical research. Participants build technical expertise while developing the confidence and curiosity needed to navigate complex health questions. Many go on to careers in academia, industry, and public health, helping drive scientific discovery and innovation in animal and human health.

“Investing in the next generation of veterinary scientists is essential to advancing innovation in animal health,” said Monica Figueiredo, PhD, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, director of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. “Through this program, students gain hands-on research experience and the mentorship needed to turn scientific curiosity into meaningful discoveries. Their work not only advances our understanding of animal health today, but it also shapes the future of the veterinary profession.”

2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award Recipients

A highlight of the symposium is the recognition of two exceptional research projects.

Isha Chauhan, received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students, for her research on early equine pregnancy loss. Her project leveraged a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants linked to pregnancy loss in horses. By analyzing more than 400 samples, Chauhan identified mutations in key developmental genes that might contribute to early pregnancy failure. Her work aims to support the development of preimplantation and prenatal screening tools to improve reproductive outcomes in horses. Her findings might also contribute to a broader understanding of pregnancy loss in human medicine.

Kevin Gustafson, DVM, PhD received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians, for his PhD thesis research at the University of Missouri investigating how the parental gut microbiome programs fetal development and influences offspring behavior metabolism, and brain function. Using behavioral testing, microbiome profiling, and advanced genomic analyses, he provided mechanistic insight into how differences in the maternal gut microbiome alter fetal neurodevelopment through changes in gut metabolite production, hippocampal DNA methylation, and gene expression. These findings advance our understanding of how the parental gut microbiome can influence lifelong health in the next generation and might inform new strategies to improve both human and animal health.

Together, these awardees—and the broader cohort of Veterinary Scholars—represent the next generation of veterinary researchers advancing innovative, research-driven approaches to some of the field’s most pressing animal health challenges.

Learn more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Research Awards: www.veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com/ResearchSpotlight. Applications for the 2027 awards are due by December 30, 2026.