Laura Miller
Associate Professor, Veterinary Virology, Immunology & Genetics
University Outstanding Scholar
Ph.D. (2001), University of Reading / Institute for Animal Health Pirbright, UK
B.Sc. Hons. (1997), University of Edinburgh, UK
President, American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (2016 & 2023)
Member-at-Large, NC-229 Swine Viral Diseases (2024-)
Phone: (785) 532-4818
Fax: (785) 532-4039
Office: Mosier K237
Email
KSU email
Dr. Laura Miller joined Kansas State University in 2023 as an Associate Professor of Veterinary Virology, Immunology and Genomics, following a 21-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her work focuses on understanding and controlling economically important viral diseases impacting the U.S. swine industry, including pathogens such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), Influenza A Virus, and other emerging livestock diseases.
Research
Dr. Miller's short-term research goals include developing new or modifying established techniques to characterize the host response to swine viruses at the molecular and cellular levels. This involves innovative techniques such as 3D cell culture, spatial transcriptomics, and the development of new vaccine approaches. This work has led to invitations for collaboration on translational projects across Kansas, with industry partners, and with researchers internationally.
Her long-term goal is to advance the understanding of the genetic component of disease expression in livestock. This will enable efficient production of animal protein for a growing global population. Research to improve animal health, a volatile cost in livestock production, ultimately helps to feed the world.
Teaching
Dr. Miller instructs DVM students in Veterinary Virology, Principles of Veterinary Immunology, and Veterinary Public Health courses. She also coordinates a graduate course on Pathogenic Mechanisms of Viruses that integrates advanced concepts from genomics, computation, and systems biology. Dr. Miller leads a USDA-NIFA funded National Needs Fellowship program across five K-State departments, focused on integrated training in livestock disease pathobiology and genomics.
Service & Leadership
Dr. Miller fosters collaborations across academia, government, and industry, including significant involvement with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) related to high-consequence pathogens. Within the university, participates in the Research Computing Advisory Committee, the CVM Faculty Council, Research Committee, and Corporate Engagement. Dr. Miller further serves the scientific community holding leadership roles in national and international research consortia focused on swine viral diseases and animal genomics, and as a regular reviewer for manuscripts and holds positions on the editorial boards for three journals: Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers in Genetics, and Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Miller, L.C.*, Anderson, S.J., Buckley, A., Schirtzinger, E.E., Hasan, M., Sarlo Davila, K.M., Fleming, D., Lager, K.M., Li., J, and Sang, Y. 2025. Vaccine Efficacy of a Replication-Competent Interferon-Expressing Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Virus Against NADC-34 Challenge. Vaccines 2025, 13, 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13040413.
Bashki, A., Stetson, J., Wang, L., Shi, J., Caragea, D., and Miller, L.C.* 2025. Towards a rapid, sensitive, user-friendly, and field-deployable AI tool for enhancing African Swine Fever diagnosis and reporting. From Bark to Bytes: Artificial Intelligence Transforming Veterinary Medicine. American Journal of Veterinary Research 86, 2025, S27. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.10.0305
Miller, L.C.*, Anderson, S.J., Buckley, A., Schirtzinger, E.E., Hasan, M., Sarlo Davila, K.M., Fleming, D., Lager, K.M., Li., J, and Sang, Y. 2025. Replication-competent recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus expressing antiviral cytokine interferon-ω5 as a modified live virus vaccine. Veterinary Microbiology Volume 301, 2025, 110366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2025.110366.
Jiang, D., Sui, C, Wu, X., Jiang, P., Hu, Y., Cong, X., Li, J., Yoo, D., Miller, L.C., Lee, C., Du, Y., and Qi, J. 2024. Swine NONO Promotes IRF3-mediated Antiviral Immune Response by Detecting PRRSV N Protein. PLOS Pathogens 20(10): e1012622. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012622.
Li, J., Miller, L.C., & Sang, Y. 2024. Current Status of Vaccines for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome: Interferon Response, Immunological Overview, and Future Prospects. Vaccines, 12(6), 606. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12060606
Nicholson, T. L., Waack, U., Fleming, D. S., Chen, Q., Miller, L.C., Merkel, T.J., & Stibitz, S. (2024). The contribution of BvgR, RisA, and RisS to global gene regulation, intracellular cyclic-di-GMP levels, motility, and biofilm formation in Bordetella bronchiseptica. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1305097. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1305097
Davila, K. M. S., Nelli, R. K., Mora-Díaz, J. C., Sang, Y., Miller, L. C.*, & Giménez-Lirola, L. G.* 2024. Transcriptome Analysis in Air-Liquid Interface Porcine Respiratory Epithelial Cell Cultures Reveals That the Betacoronavirus Porcine Encephalomyelitis Hemagglutinating Virus Induces a Robust Interferon Response to Infection. Viruses, 16(6), 939. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060939
Hu Y., Wu X., Tian Y., Jiang D., Ren J., Li Z., Ding X., Zhang Q., Yoo D., Miller, L.C., Lee C., Cong X., Li J., Du Y., Qi J. 2024. GTPase activity of porcine Mx1 plays a dominant role in inhibiting the N-Nsp9 interaction and thus inhibiting PRRSV replication. JVirol98:e0184423.https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01844-23
Nelli, R.K.*, Sarlo Davila, K. M., Phadke, K. S., Ruden, R. M., Sang, Y., Bellaire, B.H., Gimenez-Lirola, L. G., Miller, L.C.*. 2024. SARS-CoV-2 WA1 induces distinct immune transcriptome profiles in human and deer primary respiratory epithelial cells. J Immunol 1 May 2024; 212 (1_Supplement): 0124_4110. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.212.supp.0124.4110
Sarlo Davila, K. M., Nelli, R. K.*, Phadke, K. S., Ruden, R. M., Sang, Y., Bellaire, B.H., Gimenez-Lirola, L. G., Miller, L.C.* 2024. How Deer respiratory epithelial cells weather the initial storm of SARS-CoV-2. Spectrum Microbiol Spectr. Jan 8; e0252423. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02524-23. PubMed PMID: 38189329.
Wu X, Chen L, Sui C, Hu Y, Jiang D, Yang F, Miller, L.C., Li J, Cong X, Hrabchenko N, Lee C, Du Y, Qi J. 3Cpro of FMDV inhibits type II interferon-stimulated JAK-STAT signaling pathway by blocking STAT1 nuclear translocation. Virol Sin. 2023 Jun;38(3):387-397. doi: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.03.003. Epub 2023 Mar 14. PubMed PMID: 36921803.
Italics indicate mentee; * indicates the corresponding author; # indicates the presenter.