Student Experiences

AALAS Reflection

Submitted by Bryanna Meredith, North Carolina State University

In October 2021, I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by AALAS to attend the National AALAS meeting – an annual conference that hosts professionals involved in animal research including researchers, equipment company representatives, lab animal breeders, and of course, laboratory animal veterinarians. As a veterinary student passionate about lab animal medicine and animal welfare, I was excited for the exposure to the field that I would receive during this experience. At the opening AALAS welcome reception, I met many people from the industry, including a facility manager of a small vivarium and an engineer who worked for a company that designed complex animal caging systems. The latter shared with me how a cage system that she designed was used to house mice during pre-clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine; this especially highlighted how many people played a role in fighting the pandemic. 

On Monday, I practiced some pathology at a Pathology Quiz Bowl and attended some poster sessions as well as lectures on analgesia (a huge interest of mine) and anesthesia of certain lab animal species. I also learned more about the specific animal models used in COVID-19 research. Lastly, I spent time at a social networking session put on by AALAS specifically for the veterinary students who received travel grants. I got to connect with students from other vet schools also passionate about lab animal medicine. 

On Tuesday, I attended talks on a species I knew little about (naked mole rats) as well as compassion fatigue and ways to make animal research more eco-friendly. I also spent some time exploring the exhibition hall, learning more about the many companies that exist in the animal research industry. I finished off the day by attending a talk about how positive Sars-COV-2 cases were handled in zoos. I found this talk fascinating, specifically how veterinarians worked with local health care workers to learn how to treat their sick patients.

On Wednesday, I was able to discuss the lab animal field with other NC State CVM alum currently working in the industry. This was especially beneficial to me, allowing me to hear about the varying paths you can take within the animal research industry. Among other talks and time spent looking at posters, I most appreciated the discussion on diversity within the lab animal field. While we still have a long way to go, I was inspired to hear about the ways that many within the field are fighting for change.

As a lover of all things rodents, I was extremely excited to attend my last talk of the conference about non-aversive rodent handling. I learned new methods of handling rodents that seem obvious, but that I was never taught. I am passionate about providing all animals with the most stress-free environment possible, and I am grateful to have learned new skills. I was also inspired by the vets and scientists who work so hard to improve the quality of life for all research animals.

I found the learning and networking experiences available to me at the National AALAS meeting to be valuable to my current veterinary education and future career goals. Firstly, the opportunities for networking allowed me to interact with current residents, externship directors, residency program directors, and many others in the industry. This presented me with many opportunities to learn about new programs that I might apply to and get a feel of what life as a lab animal resident could be like. I spoke to many lab animal residents and vets who serve as role models for the type of career that I hope to have. I was also introduced to other members of the industry who made me more aware of the many roles that people play in animal research. I met facility managers, veterinary technicians, and even engineers who design animal research products such as caging and ventilation systems. This opened my eyes to how huge and interconnected the animal research industry really is.

I was also able to attend lectures that reinforced my current curriculum as well as taught me new things. As a veterinary student, most of our curriculum does not cover certain “untraditional” species found in animal research. I loved the opportunity to learn more about these species! This year was especially interesting due to animal research’s massive role in the COVID-19 pandemic. I heard talks about animal research’s involvement in producing COVID vaccines as well as the impact that COVID-19 has had on zoo animals. In the past couple years, we have been reminded of how crucial animal research is to our society. The AALAS meeting did a great job of exposing me to how interconnected the progress we have made with fighting and preventing COVID is. So many people have played small individual roles in getting our world back to normal, and I am incredibly grateful for them and for the National AALAS meeting making me more aware of this.

Most importantly, the National AALAS meeting reaffirmed my interest in laboratory animal medicine. This meeting reignited my passion for advocating for research animals. Moreover, it made me feel like a part of something bigger than myself. As an underrepresented interest area, lab animal-focused students feel often overlooked; but during that week, I was surrounded by people who were just as passionate about this industry as I am. I am incredibly grateful for the experience (and would absolutely love to attend again if given the opportunity).