Mentor Areas
My research program utilizes an array of virology, immunology, and pathology areas of expertise with a strong focus on translational and clinically applicable research.
Description:
The overarching theme of my research interest is to investigate the pathogenesis of viruses infecting animals. My focus is on equine viral hepatitis, including the pathogens equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), equine hepacivirus (EqHV), and equid hepadnavirus (EqHBV). I have demonstrated that equine parvovirus is the likely cause of Theiler’s disease (acute hepatic necrosis) through combined approaches of prospective case series and in vivo experiments. More recently I am also characterizing the role of equine hepacivirus in chronic hepatitis in horses, and will publish a first case series describing this condition soon. My ongoing research plans include both a big- picture approach to mapping the transmission, epidemiology and disease associations of both viruses, as well as a finer look at the role of the immune response in liver injury and determinants of disease severity. Together these studies will inform control measures for preventing viral spread during outbreaks and will lead to candidate vaccine and treatment trials.
Opportunities for undergraduate involvement include primarily sample processing through nucleic acid extraction, PCR, serologic assays, histology, and possibly data mining and organization from medical records. There might be opportunities to participate in in vivo research with horses include blood draws and liver biopsy observation and sample processing.
Preferred Qualifications
Most of the lab techniques will require at least a half-day of lab time. A minimum of two half-days or one full day per week availability is preferred.
Basic micropipetting experience is preferred. Expertise with specific techniques is not required.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.