Person wearing black gloves and a white lab coat using a pipette to fill small tubes arranged in a green rack with laboratory equipment including a microscope in the background.

Two OSU veterinary students earn prestigious FFAR research fellowships

Friday, June 13, 2025

Media Contact: Bailey Horn | Marketing Specialist | 405-744-6728 | bailey.horn@okstate.edu

For the third year in a row, students from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine have been named recipients of the highly competitive Veterinary Student Research Fellowships from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.

In a landmark achievement for the university, Jade Wilkinson and Ainslie Reynolds were selected for the 2025 cohort, marking a significant research milestone and furthering OSU’s land-grant mission.

Reynolds, working under the mentorship of Dr. Rudra Channappanavar, is addressing the emerging threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in livestock. Her project evaluates the immune response to an inactivated H5N1 vaccine using a lab animal model. The goal is to develop a viable vaccine candidate that protects food animals such as cattle while reducing transmission risk and potential zoonotic spillover.

“I am very grateful to have been selected from among so many outstanding applicants,” Reynolds said. “This opportunity allows me to fully dedicate myself to my research, contribute meaningfully to advancing disease prevention and make a lasting impact in the veterinary field.”

Person with curly blonde hair wearing a blue patterned sleeveless top standing outdoors in front of a brick building with a green lawn, trees and grass in the background. — From left: Ainslie Reynolds and Jade Wilkinson.

Person with long brown hair wearing an orange button-up shirt, blue jeans and a belt with a large buckle standing outside in front of a brick building with trees and greenery in the background. — From left: Ainslie Reynolds and Jade Wilkinson.

Wilkinson, mentored by Dr. Joao Moraes in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, is pioneering research in embryonic stem cell development in bison. While stem cells have been established in many species, they have yet to be developed in bison. Wilkinson’s work seeks to create pluripotent stem cell lines that could enhance genetic diversity and reproductive efficiency in bison — a project with far-reaching implications for conservation and livestock agriculture.

“Being named a 2025 FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellow is an extraordinary honor and a deeply humbling milestone in my journey,” Wilkinson said. “With this support, I hope to continue contributing to innovative solutions that bridge the gap between research, veterinary medicine, and agricultural advancement.”

The FFAR fellowship provides veterinary students with hands-on research experience and mentorship, supporting future leaders in animal health and agricultural innovation. With this year’s dual recognition, the OSU CVM continues establishing itself as a national leader in veterinary research excellence.