Our department has a primary focus in infectious diseases. Infectious diseases caused by well-known pathogens as well as newly emerging pathogens also have an increasingly profound effect on human and animal health. Many pathogens which cause disease in livestock have homologous counterparts which affect human beings and cause disease. Additionally, many molecular commonalities are recognized between plant and animal biology, including infectious agents that plague the plant and animal kingdoms.

It is becoming increasingly clear that to control the spread of infectious diseases, we need a greater understanding of how pathogens interact with the host, how the host responds to these pathogens, and how pathogens persist outside the host in the environment and how they are transmitted to susceptible hosts. Our department has an interdisciplinary group of faculty in areas including, biomedical sciences, epidemiology, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, immunology, pathology, cell biology, genomics, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

In all aspects of our research, we place continued emphasis on collaborative efforts towards advancement of biomedical knowledge. Our research now extends from the molecular through the population level and addresses infectious diseases, mechanism of diseases, population medicine, and related topics in biomedical research. We use our scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, and the promotion of public health.

Biomedical Sciences

This is an interdisciplinary group that focuses on medicine in both animals and humans. Research areas include infectious and environmental diseases in animals and humans. Approaches include molecular biology, immunology, epidemiology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.

Epidemiology

Risk factors and population dynamics in animal health and value, taking into account environmental, spatial and ecological factors.

Microbiology

Microbial organisms and the mechanisms by which they cause disease in animals and humans. Approaches include molecular biology, immunology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.

Bacteriology

Bacterial infectious disease research involving pathogens of animals and humans. Approaches include molecular biology, immunology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.

Virology

Viral infectious disease research involving pathogens of animals and humans. Approaches include molecular biology, immunology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.

Immunology

The role of the host in the disease process. Approaches include molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.

Pathology

The biology of disease in humans and animals. This includes genetic, parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases.

Cell Biology

Investigating the role of fundamental cellular processes in diseases of humans and animals.

Genomics

A global genomics approach to understanding both the roles of the host and pathogen in disease.

Molecular Biology

Use of modern molecular techniques to investigate the bases for diseases in animals and humans.

Biochemistry

Application of biochemical strategies to understand diseases in animals and humans.

Toxicology

The role of toxicants in disease processes.