Breakaway Genetic Discovery Highlights 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium in Raleigh

Over 500 veterinary scholars, academic researchers, and life science leaders gathered in Raleigh for the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium (held August 6–8) to present breakthroughs across companion animal and equine health. Organized by the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., the annual summit marks the culmination of the decades-long Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Veterinary Students to Isha Chauhan, a D.V.M./Ph.D. candidate at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Chauhan was recognized for her landmark investigation into the genomic drivers behind early equine pregnancy failure.

The Breakthrough: Unraveling the Genetics of Early Equine Pregnancy Loss

Early pregnancy loss remains one of the most frustrating and financially burdensome challenges in equine reproduction and breeding. In many clinical cases, mares lose pregnancies early in gestation without an identifiable infectious or anatomical cause.

Working within the Equine Pregnancy Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Mandi de Mestre at Cornell’s Baker Institute for Animal Health, Chauhan conducted a large-scale Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS):

• Sample Volume: Analyzed more than 400 tissue and embryonic samples from cases of early pregnancy failure.

• Genetic Targets: Identified key mutations and structural variants in essential developmental genes responsible for early embryonic arrest and aneuploidy.

• Clinical Utility: The findings pave the way for novel preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and prenatal screening diagnostic tools, enabling equine veterinarians and breeders to screen for high-risk genetic profiles prior to breeding.

“Her findings may also carry weight beyond the barn, adding to the broader scientific understanding of pregnancy loss in human medicine.”

2026 Award Recipients at a Glance

Institutional Significance & Industry Impact

For nearly 40 years, the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program has served as a primary pipeline for training dual veterinary-scientific talent, addressing a critical nationwide shortage of clinician-scientists.

By funding hands-on biomedical research across top accredited veterinary institutions, the initiative fosters translational science where animal health findings directly inform human comparative medicine.

As genomic screening tools move toward clinical validation, Chauhan’s work represents a major shift toward proactive, diagnostic-driven equine reproductive management.