{"id":19,"date":"2026-09-08T15:55:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T15:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/?page_id=19"},"modified":"2026-09-25T18:24:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T18:24:35","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome to The Thinking Pets Program at NC State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine, where we enroll both dogs and cats for our behavioral research studies diving into the minds of our furry friends.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-blockquote\">\n    <strong>Our study participants are canine and feline companion animals, residing in the Triangle area, who come visit us for a day of games, treats, and fun!<\/strong>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our researchers have broad areas of interest including studies of behavior, cognition, neuroaging, naturally occurring pain, and olfaction. In addition to our non-clinical studies, we also conduct clinical research in partnership with external companies, such as those developing animal health technologies, to improve the everyday life for our furry friends.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">our fresh tracks<\/h2>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\"><div class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\">\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-37\"\n            alt=\"happy dog participating in a clinical study\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-022-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Study Opportunity<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Now enrolling dogs and their humans for an exciting new study exploring how chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain affects dogs\u2019 emotions and decision-making.<br><br>What we learn will help us build better tools to understand pain, improve veterinary care, and support research that benefits both pets and people.<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\">\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"380\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-38\"\n            alt=\"dog participates in clinical study\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-01-28-142613-opti.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-01-28-142613-opti.jpg 680w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-01-28-142613-opti-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Recently Published<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">A Reliable and Holistic Approach to Evaluating Hearing and Cognitive Auditory Processing in Adult and Aged Companion Dogs<br><br>\u201cWhile comprehensive behavioral hearing tests exist for people, veterinary audiology lacks methods to assess central auditory function in dogs. This study aimed to develop behavioral hearing tests for dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\">\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"845\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-39\"\n            alt=\"lab group poses before their finding at symposium\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_3183-2048x1536-opti.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_3183-2048x1536-opti.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_3183-2048x1536-opti-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_3183-2048x1536-opti-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_3183-2048x1536-opti-768x433.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Recent Presentations<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Lab members presented findings at multiple symposiums in 2024<br><br>\u201cThese presentations were a valuable opportunity to share our findings with the broader scientific community and engage in meaningful discussions with peers and experts in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-fancy-paragraph-fifty is-text wp-block-ncst-fancy-paragraph\">\n      \n<div class=\"text-only wp-block-ncst-fp-accompaniment\">\n    \n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veterinary Scholars Program: Presentation Week!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>July 13-17th, 2026<\/em><br><br>These&nbsp;presentations highlight the outstanding summer research conducted by our veterinary scholars, featuring&nbsp;presentations&nbsp;across two thematic rooms on each day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/veterinary-scholars-program\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-fp-accompaniment\">\n    \n<aside class=\"floated-spotlight-aside-container\">\n  <div class=\"floated-spotlight-contents\">\n    <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-fp-spotlight-card has-custombg-two-background-color with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/undergradresearch.dasa.ncsu.edu\/summer-undergraduate-research-creativity-symposium\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1240\" height=\"413\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-40\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-Hero-017-scaled-1-1240x413-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-Hero-017-scaled-1-1240x413-1.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-Hero-017-scaled-1-1240x413-1-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-Hero-017-scaled-1-1240x413-1-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/21014-AKC-Breed-Sensitivity-Study-Hero-017-scaled-1-1240x413-1-768x256.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1240px) 100vw, 1240px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Summer Undergraduate Research &amp; Creativity Symposium<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">&#8220;Undergraduate researchers from across the campus and visiting from across the country share their hard work (<em>at any stage in the process<\/em>) through printed and digital posters and via interactive digital displays.&#8221;<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thinking Pets Program Alumni<\/h2>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-blockquote\">\n    <p>Meet the dogs who have made our research possible! These smiling faces have all participated in the program and completed a variety of cognitive tasks. Check out the Get Involved and Our Research pages to learn more, and find us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thinking.pets.ncsu\/?hl=en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thinking.pets.ncsu\/?hl=en\">social media<\/a> to see more Thinking Pets in action!<\/p>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-thumbnail-gallery\" data-initial=\"12\" data-remaining=\"[]\">\n    <div class=\"thumbnail-grid\" role=\"list\">\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"0\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5578-scaled-opti.jpg\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5578-scaled-opti.jpg\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"1\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5415-scaled-opti.jpg\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5415-scaled-opti.jpg\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"2\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5369-scaled-1.jpg\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5369-scaled-1.jpg\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"3\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5521-scaled-1.jpg\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5521-scaled-1.jpg\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"4\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5326-scaled-1.jpg\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/IMG_5326-scaled-1.jpg\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n                      <button\n          class=\"thumbnail\"\n          type=\"button\"\n          role=\"listitem\"\n          aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n          aria-label=\"Thumbnail Image \u2014 open full size\"\n          data-index=\"5\"\n        >\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-124154.png\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            data-caption=\"\"\n            data-full-url=\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-124154.png\"\n          \/>\n        <\/button>\n          <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to The Thinking Pets Program at NC State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine, where we enroll both dogs and cats for our behavioral research studies diving into the minds of our furry friends. Our researchers have broad areas of interest including studies of behavior, cognition, neuroaging, naturally occurring pain, and olfaction. In addition to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6858,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/split-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_one\",\"imageID\":33,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/565\/2026\/09\/thinkingpets_home.jpg\",\"pageIntro\":\"\",\"imageAlt\":\"\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6858"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":145,"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions\/145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cvm.ncsu.edu\/comparative-behavioral-research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}