Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) decided to fund three new Hayre fellows on two Hayre Fellowships. This is a fantastic chance for three students to stand up and motivate the people in their community and beyond. AMP created the Fellowship in honor of its late Chairman, Michael D. Hayre, DVM. Its aim is to foster young voices to speak in support of science and advancing medical knowledge through responsible animal research.
Gillian Braden-Weiss (left) and Breanna Caltagarone (right) are two veterinary medicine students at the University of Pennsylvania. Both have extensive experience in animal sciences and have worked in shelters, clinics and laboaratories to gain crucial insights into the importance of animal welfare.
Both Hayre Fellows will work together to start the “Thank a Mouse” campaign aimed at educating private practise vets and their clients about the importance of animals in research. They have a great opportunity to reinforce the role that animals play in the development of veterinary medicine.
The third Hayre Fellow might be recognizable from the Committee list. Megan Wyeth is studying for a PhD in Neurobiology at UCLA, studying epilepsy in mice. Megan was a crucial player in the highly successful UCLA Pro-Test rally in April. She plans to use the Hayre Fellowship to expand UCLA Pro-Test, now renamed Pro-Test for Science, across to other universities in California. Megan has the passion and the commitment to become a driving force for change in California.
You can read more about all three candidates.
Dr. McConnell, a long time friend and classmate of Dr. Hayre said:
We welcome Megan, Breanna and Gillian and the contributions they will make to research advocacy during their tenure as Hayre Fellows. Mike Hayre was an inspirational leader and mentor who valued the contributions students made to biomedical science and animal welfare. He believed the future of medical advancement depended on the public’s understanding and acceptance of animal research in medicine. I’m confident that Mike would view the work of this year’s Fellows as essential to that vision.
On behalf of Speaking of Research, we wish all three Hayre fellows the best of luck over the next year, and offer them our full support in changing public opinion in their local communities and beyond.
Regards
Tom Holder
