AAVI Expands its Awards Porfolio

On June 9, 2026, the AAVI Board approved the expansion of its awards portfolio to better recognize excellence across career stages, mentorship, service, and membership, while preserving the Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist (DVI) Award as AAVI’s highest and singular honorific. The proposed structure introduces additional awards that:
  • Provide recognition opportunities for early- and mid-career investigators,
  • Acknowledge excellence in mentoring,
  • Recognize extraordinary service and commitment to AAVI, and
  • Strengthen member engagement and visibility of veterinary immunology.

Read an/or watch a video summary about the rationale for the expansion:

AAVI Awards

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL AWARDS:
  • Nominators must be General or Lifetime AAVI members in good standing. Student members in good standing can nominate for the Mentorship Award.
  • Good standing requires dues paid through the next dues cycle.
    • Failure to pay membership dues by March 1 of any given year resets a member’s tenure and may affect eligibility for awards requiring continuous membership.
  • Time spent as a student member is fully counted toward eligibility.
  • Self-nominations are not permitted.
  • Posthumous awards will not be considered.
  • To avoid conflicts of interest, Awards Committee members may not nominate, recommend, or be nominated; and Board of Directors members may not be nominated for any award during their term on the Board.
  • The AAVI Award Policy establishes the maximum number of awards available each year. However, the AAVI Awards Committee may recommend, and/or the AAVI Board may decide not to present all awards in a given year.
  • Candidates may be re-nominated annually, and complete nominations must be submitted each year.
THE AWARDS
The DVI is the highest honor bestowed by the association, recognizing outstanding contributions to veterinary immunology. It is open to members and non-members, selected by the Board from nominations forwarded by the Nominations Committee, and accompanied by a plaque and an award lecture at the Conference of Research Workers on Animal Diseases (CRWAD).
This award is presented annually to up to one (1) outstanding early-career investigator for their research accomplishments and professional promise in veterinary immunology.
This award is presented annually to up to one mid-career scientist for outstanding contributions to veterinary immunology. Nominations for veterinary immunologists who demonstrate leadership excellence in research, education, diagnostics, industry, government, or other fields associated with veterinary immunology will be considered.
A dedicated mentor significantly influences a trainee's professional development and career. This award recognizes the importance of this mentor-trainee relationship. Up to one awardee will be recognized each year.
This award recognizes members who have provided exceptionally distinguished service to AAVI or made exemplary contributions to veterinary immunology. It is intended for individuals whose contributions to the association are especially notable. Up to one member may be recognized each year, although the award is not expected to be presented annually.