September 14, 2013 | Vet Record Careers | i

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Kasia Szymanska is a second-year veterinary student at University College Dublin (UCD). This year, a summer externship took her to North Carolina where she undertook research at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. At UCD, she handles public relations for its One Health Society

Pursuing an interest in research and one health

IS it a prerequisite for all veterinary students to enter the profession because of a love for animals? I don’t think so. I believe that most people enjoy the company of animals. In fact, I know from the scientific literature that individuals who are cruel towards animals are often violent towards people as well.

The public’s perception about what motivates veterinary students and the careers they will go into is often revealed when I meet people. It is usually assumed that, being solely motivated by a love for animals, there are only two career options open to me – large or small animal practice.

I have just spent the summer experienc-ing research, which is an area where vets make significant contributions that ben-efit animals, people and the environment. I was based at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), North Carolina. Under the guidance of Dave Malarkey, head of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Pathology Group, in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch I learned first hand about the NTP’s role in providing toxicological evaluations on sub-stances of public health concern, especially synthetic industrial chemicals, pesticides, food additives, metals and pharmaceuticals.

I was funded in part by a White Horse Travel Bursary from my university, which allowed me to take part in a research project of my own at the NIEHS and share the results. At the end of my externship, I gave an oral presentation to the department and presented a poster at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program Seminar.

My project allowed me to explore the intricacies of the biological progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and help to differentiate it from a preceding and often related lesion called cholangiofibrosis using immunohistochemistry. In people, cholan-giocarcinoma is a rapidly progressive neo-plasm of the biliary epithelium that carries a poor prognosis. Often diagnosed in advanced stages when therapeutic outcomes are poor, cholangiocarcinoma is the second most com-mon primary liver tumour in humans.

Apart from conducting basic research in a multidisciplinary team of scientists and veterinarians, I ventured out of the lab to con-nect with others in Research Triangle Park (RTP). This is home to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Rollins State Diagnostic Laboratory, GlaxoSmithKline, North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine, the Duke Lemur Center and many more institutes, and it offered me the chance to shadow a diverse group of vet-erinarians. I was able to gain both insight into various disciplines and practical career advice.

I was also fortunate to be able to join the Cornell Leadership Program in visits to the NIH and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Bethesda, Maryland. The Cornell Leadership Program is a highly competitive, research-intensive summer pro-gramme that aims to introduce veterinary students from universities around the world to careers in biomedical research and public health.

Veterinary student research interns from the University of Pennsylvania accompanied

us at the NIH for a full day of presentations by an impressive list of speakers. One of the high-lights was a talk given by Victoria Hampshire, of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, on preclinical animal studies. Another inter-esting presentation was given by Elaine Ostrander, head of the Comparative Genetics Section of the National Human Genome Research Institute, on her species-spanning work that aims to identify genes that relate to susceptibility to and progression and specific outcomes of canine and human diseases.

My behind-the-scenes tour of laborato-ries at the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research started with passing through a security checkpoint manned by military per-sonnel. Once inside the high-security facility, one of the stops was at an insectary, which housed hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes used in malaria research.

Each of the veterinarians I spent time with in government, industry and non-profit

Kasia Szymanska in front of a poster discussing her research findings

Photograph: Steve McCaw

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ii | Vet Record Careers | September 14, 2013

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conservation agencies offered me a glimpse into the exciting opportunities veterinarians have. This diverse group of veterinarians also encouraged me to pursue my own passions in this area.

Through this opportunity, I have forged an extensive professional network of vet-erinarians, from those working behind the bench to understand mechanisms of dis-ease, to those who help to make food safer through their efforts in developing public policy. I have shared stories, exchanged ideas and made lasting friendships with vet-erinary students from many different coun-tries. Above all, I engaged in experimental learning that was challenging and reward-ing.

One of the greatest challenges present-ed by research comes from being on the edge of the known and not always being able to predict what comes next. This was particularly the case for me, as I explored a topic in pathology without having had a formal introduction to the subject in my studies. There were also some pitfalls: a failed experiment, a protocol that needed optimising, and an unexpected result that

needed to be understood, are just some examples.

At the same time, the unknowns that surround basic research made the process of understanding a topic, even if it was just a small piece of a greater puzzle, much more rewarding. I enjoyed my summer in research tremendously and would strongly encourage other students to seek out similar opportuni-ties. However, my involvement in research does not end here. My future career will

demand that I am able to translate basic sci-ence, as well as communicate and apply the latest findings. My training in the scientific discovery process and ability to collaborate within a diverse team will serve me well as I enter the global arena, where issues span dis-ciplines and national borders. We live in one world with one health and veterinarians serve as an important link in this global network. They are guardians of the environment and promote the wellbeing of all living creatures.

Kasia joins students on the Cornell Leadership Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research’s insect vivarium Ph

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Ten-minute chatinteresting species and fiddling about with other people’s bees when I get the chance doesn’t really feel like work.

Tell us a bit about bee diseases and where bumble bees fit inBumble bees have their own pests and diseases but I am concentrating on those of honey bees through The Bee Vet website (www.bee-vet.co.uk). The varroa mite is the biggest challenge. This jumped species to become a pest of the honey bee where it has a far more severe impact than in its original host, both directly and by spreading bee viruses. In the UK there are no longer any true wild honey bee colonies. They are completely dependent on human intervention to control varroa. Resistance to varroacides is a major problem.

What other problems do bees face? The biggest threat to all bee species is a lack of forage, although impacts from pesticides and diseases are a factor. Since the 1930s, 97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost – an astonishing level and speed of habitat loss.

Why are bees important? All wildlife should have an innate importance but bees also have a major

economic role. The income from bee products is tiny compared to the value they provide in pollination. A UK estimate was a value of £200 million for the pollination services for crops with a total value of £2 billion.

What sort of questions were you asked at the show?

Some specific technical product questions from beekeepers, lots of questions about the problems facing bees from interested members of the public, and also a few quips about how small my theatre must be to operate on bees.

Are people fascinated of or frightened by bees?Almost always fascinated, which you could not fail to be at the show where a glass display cabinet allowed you to view a colony of bees bringing in forage to build a wild comb. It’s truly amazing.

What was your most embarrassing moment?I collected a sample of dead bees in an open pot in early spring to screen for Nosema apis. In the warmth of a vehicle they ‘un-died’ and had crawled all over the boss’s car before I discovered the error.

Where did your interest in bees begin?It really comes from a general interest in ecology and conservation. I worked for a conservation charity (The Conservation Volunteers) before and during university. I also intercalated my degree with zoology, which provides a different angle on appreciating host-parasite relationships. Recently though, it was being fascinated by the bees visiting my allotment.

Do you keep bees? With a young family and a busy job I know that I could not be a committed enough beekeeper to do a good job so I don’t have my own bees yet.

Do you work with bees professionally? It is mainly a professional role at the moment, but researching such an

Emily Simcock spends most of her working life with cattle for St David’s Farm Veterinary Practice in Exeter, but she also has an interest in bees. At this year’s Devon county show she was invited to attend as the ‘bee vet’ by the Devon Beekeepers’ Association. The aim was to provide information on bee health and diseases.

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healthPursuing an interest in research and one

Kasia Szymanska

doi: 10.1136/vr.f55902013 173: i Veterinary Record

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