PULLMAN, WA – Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine invested more than $49 million in research and related activities during fiscal year 2024, placing it among the nation’s top veterinary colleges.
According to recently released data from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine ranked fourth among the nation’s 33 veterinary colleges in research expenditures between July 2023 and June 2024. These expenditures were supported through a mix of federal and state funding, private donations, and industry partnerships. When measured by research spending per tenure-track faculty member, the college ranked third in the country.
The fact that we’re among the top veterinary colleges in the country for research spending is a testament to the strength of our faculty and the impact of our work,” said Jon Oatley, associate dean for research at the college. “Our researchers are driving discoveries that improve and shape the future of animal and human health. This ranking reflects not just the volume of our research, but its significance on a global scale.”
Federal grants are the college’s largest source of research funding, followed by support from the state of Washington, private donors and industry partners.
Research expenditures at the college have grown by 16% over the past four years, increasing $49.1 million from just over $42 million in fiscal year 2021. The college’s research funding has outpaced WSU’s overall research growth, which increased by 12% during the same period, according to data from WSU.
While the college’s research efforts are wide reaching, the institution is noted for its programs and strengths in infectious disease, neuroscience and reproductive biology, all of which have broad impacts on both human and animal health.
Oatley highlighted the college’s efforts in zoonotic disease – those that can transfer between animals and humans – to protect public health and food security. Researchers are actively monitoring and studying diseases like avian influenza, which has devastated poultry populations, disrupted food supply chains and driven up egg prices. The disease has also infected other species, including cattle and humans.
The college is also a leader in reproductive biology, conducting research that has implications for human and animal health, including family planning, livestock reproduction and fertility treatments.
In neuroscience, its researchers are renowned for their efforts in exploring the mechanisms of addiction to better understand substance abuse and improve treatment options.
While the college has been successful in securing federal grants, industry partnerships remain an area for potential growth. The college currently ranks 20th among veterinary schools in industry-funded research, a number Oatley attributes in part to the rural nature of Pullman and eastern Washington. He said expanding industry collaborations and encouraging faculty to think entrepreneurially will be key to strengthening the college’s research portfolio.
