Sources of Research Support Associated with Reports n in the American Journal of Veterinary Research

SUMMARY Reports from veterinary colleges or veterinary science departments in the United States and Canada that were published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research (January 1976-June 1978) were analyzed according to stated source or sources of financial support. A total of 291 (72%) of the reports were from veterinary colleges and 50 (12%) were from veterinary science departments. The primary sources of support for reports from veterinary colleges were the National Institutes of Health (18%), the institution’s agricultural experiment station (13%), and the US Department of Agriculture (13%). For veterinary science departments, the primary sources were the institution’s agricultural experiment station (33%), the pharmaceutical industry (22%), and the US Department of Agriculture (20%). Veterinary college reports acknowledged 44 different sources of support. The mean number of sources listed for reports from veterinary colleges was 1.7 with up to 5 sources listed in several reports. Additional observations for veterinary college reports were as follows: Multiple sources of support were listed for 58% of these reports. Multiple sources of support from the same organization were derived from the National Institutes of Health (2 to 4 sources) and the United States Department of Agriculture (2 sources). Combinations of 2 different sources of support occurred frequently, whereas combinations of 3 to 4 different sources were rare. Pathophysiology (27%), immunology (22%), pharmacology (17%), microbiology (12%), and virology (10%) were the fields most frequently associated with these reports. The National Institutes of Health was prominent in its support of these fields in the reports examined. The institution’s agricultural experiment station and the US Department of Agriculture were more prominent in support of immunology than for the other fields. The majority of reports were concerned with problems affecting cattle (28%), dogs (22%), horses (13%), pigs (7.9%), and cats (7.1%). The institution’s agricultural experiment station, the US Department of Agriculture, and commodity groups supported bovine research primarily. The National Institutes of Health, the pharmaceutical industry, and foundations supported canine research primarily. Most of the reports were categorized as involving investigative research and identified the National Institutes of Health as a major source of support. Reference research was also supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health. Testing research received a major portion of its support from the pharmaceutical industry.