Dr. Shelly Vaden recognized with 2026 AVMA Clinical Research Award

(Schaumburg, Illinois) June 24, 2026-The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today named Dr. Shelly Vaden, professor of internal medicine at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, as the winner of the 2026 AVMA Clinical Research Award.

Established in 1955 by the AVMA Council on Research, the award is given annually to an AVMA member who has made significant contributions to the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of diseases in animals, including the study of mechanisms of disease, therapeutic interventions, clinical trials, development of new technologies and epidemiological studies.

"I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition," said Dr. Vaden. "Clinical research is a team effort, and this award reflects the dedication of the students, residents, colleagues, collaborators, and clients with whom I've been fortunate to work. Our goal has always been the same-to turn better science into better care for the animals we serve."

"Dr. Vaden's career embodies what clinical research is meant to be-the steady pursuit of better answers for patients, carried all the way from the exam room into everyday practice," said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president of the AVMA. "She has transformed how we diagnose and treat kidney and urinary disease in dogs and cats, and she is now helping build an entirely new veterinary specialty so this work continues for generations to come. We are proud to honor her with this award."

"Dr. Shelly Vaden is an exceptional veterinarian whose expertise, dedication to clinical research, and leadership has had a lasting and monumental impact on the field of veterinary nephrology and urology," said Dr. Kathryn Meurs, Randall B. Terry Jr. Dean of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "She embodies the standard of excellence we strive for at NC State University through her innovative approaches to patient care, discovery and training the next generation of veterinarians and clinical specialists."

A 1985 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Vaden went on to complete an internship at Cornell University, a residency in small animal internal medicine and a PhD at North Carolina State University, where she has served on the faculty since 1991. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has become one of the profession's foremost authorities in veterinary nephrology and urology, with research that consistently bridges the laboratory and the exam room.

Dr. Vaden's work has reshaped the diagnosis and management of upper and lower urinary tract diseases in companion animals. Among her contributions, she studied the use urinary biomarkers that distinguish stable from progressive chronic kidney disease in dogs, established pooled urine sampling as the standard approach for measuring the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, and helped assess novel therapies, including adeno-associated virus vectored erythropoietin gene therapy for the anemia of chronic kidney disease and radiation therapy for feline idiopathic cystitis. Her work in regenerative medicine has also advanced new treatment options for urinary incontinence.

Several of her findings have changed clinical practice in ways that reduce unnecessary medication use. Her collaborative research on subclinical bacteriuria has guided clinicians away from overusing antimicrobials, and her studies on gastric acid suppressants in cats with chronic kidney disease have refined when those drugs are warranted-contributions that reflect the profession's broader commitment to responsible therapeutic stewardship.

Dr. Vaden has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and has co-authored multiple consensus statements that now guide clinicians in managing conditions such as urinary incontinence and glomerular disease in dogs. Her research has attracted more than $6.5 million in funding as principal or co-principal investigator from organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the American Kennel Club, the Morris Animal Foundation and the National Cancer Institute.

A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Vaden has guided veterinary students, graduate students, residents, junior faculty and veterinary technicians throughout her career and has served as chief of staff of the NC State Veterinary Hospital. In 2023, she was named associate veterinary medical officer at the college, where she has prioritized the well-being and professional advancement of hospital staff.

Dr. Vaden's leadership has been central to establishing nephrology and urology as a recognized veterinary specialty. In 2022, she became a founding member of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, and she currently serves as its president, working to create the training standards and certification examinations that will allow veterinarians to become board-certified in the field. She also serves as president of the International Renal Interest Society and has long been a leader in the American Society of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology.

To learn more about the AVMA Clinical Research Award and past recipients, visit https://www.avma.org/awards.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, senior media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell) or [email protected].