Dr. Luis Montaner - DVM 1991
American Veterinary Medical Association 2022
Dr. Luis J. Montaner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was selected by the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine for its 2022 Alumni Recognition Award presented in conjunction with the annual convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) held in Philadelphia at the end of July 2022. The award is given to veterinarians whose careers have served as exemplary role models for future alumni in a professional and community setting.
Dr. Montaner, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and master of veterinary pathology degrees from Kansas State University, both in 1991, and a doctorate in experimental pathology from the University of Oxford, UK, in 1995. He joined The Wistar Institute in 1995 as an assistant professor and was promoted to professor in 2007. Dr. Montaner is currently vice president for scientific operations; associate director for Shared Resources, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center; Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Endowed Chair Professor; director, HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis Laboratory; and professor, Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, at The Wistar Institute.
“I am very grateful for the honor to be chosen to receive the Alumni Recognition Award from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Dr. Montaner. “My formative years in Veterinary Medicine at K-State were the springboard that supported my continued education and motivation to apply comparative medicine towards advancing human health. As we’ve seen these last two and a half years during the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborative research is the key to help shape the future for the betterment of humanity. This Award is a reminder that Veterinary Medicine remains central to this global effort. "
“Dr. Montaner has been a transformative leader in HIV research, whose work has helped inform treatments for people around the world impacted by HIV,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, Hodes Family Dean of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “In 2019, we invited Dr. Montaner to K-State to deliver the keynote address for our annual Phi Zeta Research Day. His work demonstrates the breadth of options for DVM graduates. He is a strong role model for veterinary students pursuing research careers. We are proud to recognize him with this prestigious alumni award.”
Dr. Montaner’s laboratory works with an extended network of national and international collaborators and engages in partnerships with the local patient community to offer participation in research studies and education on the latest research. Dr. Montaner currently leads one of the largest NIH-supported collaboration groups focused on advancing HIV cure research under the BEAT-HIV Martin Delaney Collaboratory. Dr. Montaner serves on the board of directors of the community-based AIDS clinical trials group Philadelphia FIGHT. He also leads cancer patient participation networks for analysis in Wistar Institute laboratories inclusive of the Montaner program.
Dr. Montaner has authored more than 180 papers and serves as a reviewer and scientific advisor for multiple national and international projects and/or organizations. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology and a sought-after national and international lecturer.
Dr. Montaner has been a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Microbiology, American Veterinary Medical Association, British Immunology Society (UK), International Cytokine Society, Society for General Microbiology (UK), the Society of Leukocyte Biology and Society for Mucosal Immunology.
Dr. Montaner is married to Dr. Olga Jarrín Montaner.