The Vernau Laboratory is dedicated to advancing the understanding and management of diseases affecting kittens, with a primary goal of enhancing their overall health and well-being.
Under the leadership of Dr. Vernau, our interdisciplinary team collaborates closely with specialists in ophthalmology, surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, cardiology, clinical pathology, infectious diseases, genetics, and radiology.
By pooling expertise from diverse fields, we strive to optimize the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for kittens affected by various ailments.
Areas of Research
The Vernau Laboratory focuses on the investigation of naturally occurring diseases affecting kittens. Through these collaborative studies, we aim to deepen our understanding and enhance the management of these kittens, ultimately contributing to the improved health and welfare of kittens worldwide.
We are currently investigating kittens less than 8 weeks of age who are not growing as anticipated, who may be diagnosed as “failure to thrive”.
For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Vernau at kmvernau@ucdavis.edu.
Our Team
Karen Vernau
Dr. Vernau is a clinical professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery and is a member of the Access to Care Service at UC Davis. She has an interest in feline neonatal medicine and strives to improve the health and welfare of kittens.
She serves as faculty mentor for the Orphan Kitten Project (OKP) at UC Davis, which is a veterinary student-run non-profit organization. OKP takes in orphaned and abandoned neonatal from the community and local shelters. Kittens are fostered by veterinary students or members of the community, who raise them in their own homes. Kittens with medical or surgical conditions are prioritized for intake into OKP where their medical conditions are treated. Kittens are vaccinated, microchipped, FeLV tested, spayed/neutered, and dewormed before adoption.
Dr. Vernau also serves as a faculty mentor to veterinary students in the Fracture Program Club, where members foster animals enrolled in the Fracture Program for Shelter Animals. This program provides surgeries—performed by residents with student assistance with faculty oversight—for homeless animals with broken limbs. The program provides training for residents and students while saving the lives of adoptable animals.
Dr. Vernau and her family foster have been fostering kittens together since 2013. They have one rescue dog and four foster fail cats.
Amanda Dang
Amanda is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with an impressive 14 years of experience in the veterinary field. Her diverse background includes working in General Practice, Avian/Exotics, Shelter Medicine, Neurology / Neurosurgery, and Emergency and Critical Care. Currently, Amanda holds the position of supervisor, overseeing Small Animal Surgical Services and Operating Rooms at UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Throughout her extensive career, Amanda has cultivated a deep passion for aiding homeless animals. She has actively engaged with and fostered patients involved in the UC Davis Fracture Program and the Orphan Kitten Project. Collaborating closely with Dr. Vernau, she has contributed significantly to various projects, with a primary focus on sample collection from critically ill kittens or those enrolled in clinical trials.
Beyond her professional commitments, Amanda dedicates her time to volunteering at Covelo Clinic, a student-run Spay/Neuter/Wellness clinic serving the rural community of Covelo three times a year. She has also assisted in organizing Trap and Release (TNR) projects, with a particularly cherished memory being a project at the Buddhist temple she grew up attending with her family. Her commitment to both her professional and volunteer work showcases a remarkable dedication to the well-being of animals.
Nicole Jeffries
Nicole Jeffries, a first-year veterinary student at UC Davis possesses a keen interest in feline neonatal medicine. She’s been fostering critically ill kittens for more than 5 years and absolutely loves it! Many of her foster kittens have been enrolled in clinical trials at UC Davis. It is through this hands-on involvement in clinical trials that Nicole realized her passion for contributing to the advancement of the medical care for kittens. Over the past three years, Nicole has worked closely with Dr. Vernau on various kitten research projects, showcasing her dedication and aptitude in the field. Currently assuming the role of study manager for several projects, Nicole continues to make meaningful contributions to the realm of feline healthcare research at UC Davis.
Nicole has three kittens of her own and always has foster kittens in her home.
Jordyn Purpura
Jordyn Purpura has long held an interest in the advancement of neonatal medicine, first working with orphaned wildlife and later becoming involved with kittens and puppies during his undergraduate studies at UC Davis. He currently works in ICU management for Sage Veterinary Centers and has been the Feline Director of Yolo County SPCA since 2019. He's worked closely with Dr. Vernau on various clinical research projects that have advanced the care and understanding of neonatal kittens. He will begin veterinary school in the fall of 2024 and hopes to pursue the foundation of a board certified pediatric speciality.
He and his partner live in Sacramento with their three cats and border collie, and serve as foster parents for neonatal and medical cases.