UCD signs global veterinary medicine partnership with US universities
25 August 2025
Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University; Professor Rory Breathnach, head of the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, and Professor Orla Feely, President of University College Dublin; and Dr Richard Linton, President of Kansas State University, and Professor Beth Davis, interim dean of K-State College of Veterinary Medicine Credit: K-State News and Communications Services
University College Dublin has joined forces with Kansas State University and Iowa State University to establish a new international partnership in veterinary medicine.
The three universities signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding at NovaUCD, the hub of start-up and innovation-related activities at UCD, during the One Health Ag Tech Summit, hosted by Enterprise Ireland.
The aim is to strengthen academic exchange and advance global research collaboration between Ireland and the US.
The Summit was arranged to foster links between researchers, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders from Ireland and the United States.
Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke welcomed the US delegation to Ireland which included Governors Kim Reynolds of Iowa and Laura Kelly of Kansas, and President Richard Linton of Kansas State University and President Wendy Wintersteen of Iowa State University.
The summit featured discussions on precision farming, digital agriculture, and global responses to health challenges, alongside demonstrations of agritech innovation at UCD Lyons Farm, one of the main hubs for UCD agricultural and veterinary research and teaching.
The 250 hectare farm is located in County Kildare has dairy, beef, sheep, equine, crop and environmental research, teaching and commercial facilities.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic (opens in a new window)@cfbireland is always spectacular, and the programme of events around it gets better each year. I was delighted to welcome the Presidents of (opens in a new window)@KState, (opens in a new window)@IowaStateU and (opens in a new window)@SDState, and the Governors of their respective States, to (opens in a new window)@ucddublin. (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/SpL3fRBjEa
— Orla Feely (@OrlaFeely) (opens in a new window)August 23, 2025
The new agreement focuses on fostering cooperation between their colleges of veterinary medicine, with initiatives ranging from faculty and student exchanges to joint research projects and coordinated teaching activities.
"[This] agreement is the culmination of highly valued collaborative efforts from all institutions involved to further enhance the educational experience for our students," said UCD President (opens in a new window)Professor Orla Feely.
"This partnership will provide tremendous value to our College of Veterinary Medicine," added Professor Beth Davis, interim dean of Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
"As a next-generation land-grant university, forging important partnerships like this helps our K-State veterinary medicine students, researchers and faculty members to do good in Kansas and across the world."
Through the partnership, the institutions will promote academic mobility, receive undergraduate and graduate students for study and research placements, and organise joint symposia, conferences, and continuing education programmes.
The collaboration also seeks to share expertise and knowledge in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, animal health, and agricultural innovation.
"Antimicrobial resistance impacts animals, humans, the environment and plants,” said Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State.
“There are valuable perspectives that come from conversations with people around the world to understand how we combat antimicrobial resistance.
"The practicalities of what can and cannot be done are different in other countries, which is why we must think of this at a global level."
The partnership builds on existing collaborations between the universities and is expected to expand opportunities for students, researchers, and industry partners while advancing solutions to global veterinary and agricultural challenges.
The visit by the US delegation was part of the wider Aer Lingus College Football Classic where K-State Wildcats played Iowa State Cyclones as part of the first ever Big 12 Match Conference in Ireland.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email:(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)newsdesk@ucd.ie
