Raghu Amachawadi, BVSc, MS, PhD
agraghav@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences
Dr. Raghu Amachawadi’s research interests are in antimicrobial resistance among gut commensals and foodborne pathogens of swine and cattle production systems. Specifically, on understanding the mechanisms involved in the propagation and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and on the role of non-antibiotic alternatives in contribution and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance in gut bacteria, and on microbiome and metagenomics analyses of the gut of cattle and swine. His research interests also include both aerobic and or anaerobic bacterial flora of liver abscesses and its prevention in feedlot cattle. |
Mike Apley, DVM. PhD, DACVCP
mapley@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Clinical Sciences
Dr. Mike Apley's research is focused on food animal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of veterinary drugs.
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Katsura Asano, PhD
kasano@ksu.edu Professor, Biology
Dr. Katsura Asano studies regulation of protein biosynthesis, yeast genetics and biochemistry, and molecular and cell biology of insects and cancer.
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Chieko Azuma, DVM, PhD, DACVR-RO, CPIA
chieko@vet.k-state.edu Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences
Dr. Chieko Azuma's research is focused on investigating the biological effects of radiation therapy and evaluation of treatment response in veterinary patients. She also has interests in palliative care and pain management, and research ethics and compliance. |
Matt Basel, PhD
mbasel@k-state.edu Clinical Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Matt Basel’s research is focused on cancer therapy, especially hyperthermia and nanomedicine, and on designing better models for cancer research.
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Brad Benkhe, PhD
bjbehnke@k-state.edu Professor, Kinesiology
Dr. Brad Behnke’s research involves manipulation of tumor microenvironments to enhance cancer therapies, cardiovascular regulation of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue perfusion with age, and pathological conditions including diabetes, heart failure, and mechanical failure.
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Stefan Bossmann, PhD sbossman@ksu.edu University Distinguished Professor, Chemistry
Dr. Stefan Bossmann studies cell-mediated delivery of drugs to tumors.
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Mary Cain, PhD
mecain@ksu.edu Professor, Psychology
Dr. Mary Cain studies the neurobiological basis of drug use using a rodent model.
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Natalia Cernicchiaro, DVM MS PhD
ncernic@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Natalia Cernicchiaro research focus is on veterinary epidemiology, food safety, zoonoses and production medicine. Research interests include the application of epidemiological concepts and methods, including multi-level modeling and knowledge synthesis and translation techniques to design, implement and interpret observational and experimental studies pertaining to food safety, zoonoses, arthropod-borne diseases and production medicine. Current research projects include understanding the distribution and determinants of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli non-O157, Salmonella and respiratory disease organisms in cattle and cattle production systems.
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Kyeong-Ok Chang, DVM, MS, PhD
kchang@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
The development of therapeutic small molecules against various viruses including noroviruses, influenza virus and rotaviruses within vitro screening system and animal models such as (gnotobiotic) pigs and mice.
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Jeba Chelladurai, BVSc & AH, MS, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology) jebaj@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Pharmacological targets and resistance markers in parasitic nematodes.
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Hans Coetzee, BVSc, PhD
jcoetzee@vet.k-state.edu Professor and Head, Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Hans Coetzee’s research works to identify and validate biomarkers of pain in animal models and develop new analgesic drug regimens.
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Lee Cohnstaedt, PhD
lee.cohnstaedt@ars.usda.gov USDA Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit, Adjunct Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Lee Cohnstaedt’s research focuses on mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rift Valley fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. He also studies methods to reduce biting midge (culicoides) transmitted epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue virus transmission on cervid farms. The lab uses both field and lab projects to determine the best methods to reduce disease transmission by mosquito and biting midge disease vectors. |
Jeff Comer, PhD
jeffcomer@ksu.edu Associate Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Jeff Comer studies molecular simulation of interactions between biological molecules and synthetic nanostructures, with a particular focus on the thermodynamics and kinetics of binding, transmembrane transport of nanoparticles, and high-throughput screening. |
Steven Copp, PhD
scopp@k-state.edu Associate Professor, Kinesiology
Dr. Steven Copp’s research interest is autonomic control of circulation during exercise in health and cardiovascular disease. |
Elizabeth Davis, DVM, PhD
Edavis@vet.k-state.edu Professor and Head, Clinical Sciences
The primary focus of my research has involved mechanisms of innate immunity in horses. The current series of investigations involves examining the mechanism of immune activation with specific DNA sequences called CpG DNA. We are examining how bacterial DNA induces these responses and which sequences are the most effective at inducing immune activation. The ultimate goal of such investigations will be to use CpG DNA in combination with vaccine antigens so that we can safely and effectively make vaccines more powerful. Investigations will utilize cellular proliferation, cytokine gene expression and molecular cloning and sequencing assays.
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Sally Davis, DVM, PhD
asally@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Sally Davis studies host-pathogen interactions for agents including Influenza A virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus, and Pneumocystis spp, as well as development of in vitro systems that better modle aspects of in vivo infections.
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Robert DeLong, MS, PhD
robertdelong@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
The group studies the interaction, stabilization and delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics and proteins by nanoparticles, with a particular interest in their anti-cancer, biochemical and immunological activity.
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Barbara Drolet, MS, PhD
barbara.drolet@ars.usda.gov USDA Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit Adjunct Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Barbara Drolet’s research focuses on insect-transmitted diseases of livestock and wildlife, such as bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, vesicular stomatitis, and Rift Valley fever viruses. Her research includes developing arboviral immunodiagnostics, conducting animal pathogenesis and vector competence studies, investigating the molecular interactions between arboviruses and their mammalian and insect hosts, and determining the effects of insect vector saliva on mammalian immune responses and arbovirus infection following bite transmission. |
Sherry Fleming, PhD
sdfleming@k-state.edu Professor, Biology
Dr. Sherry Fleming’s research focuses on the innate immune response and understanding the mechanisms of an excessive response during sterile injury such as surgery or pre-eclampsia. Importantly, we are determining the role of sex on the innate response and the ability of small therapeutics to inhibit the excessive response without inhibiting the total immune response. An additional project examines the ability of the small therapeutics to inhibit melanoma growth.
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Peying Fong, PhD
pfong@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Regulation of sodium, chloride and iodide transport by epithelial cells.
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Roman Ganta, PhD
rganta@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Roman Ganta studies Ehrlichia and Anaplasma vector-borne diseases, assessing pathogen molecular structure, host response, the effect of tick and host cell environments on the pathogens’ adaptation, mutagenesis, vaccine development, and developing molecular diagnostic tests. |
Brian Geisbrecht, PhD
geisbrechtb@ksu.edu Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Dr. Brian Geisbrecht studies Staphylococcus aureus with a multidisciplinary approach including innate immunity, molecular basis of infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions, and structural biology and molecular recognition.
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Erica Geisbrecht, PhD
geisbrechte@ksu.edu Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Dr. Erica Geisbrecht studies formation and maintenance of muscle and heart tissue, biochemistry and molecular genetics of Drosophila, and cell signaling in development.
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Phil Hardwidge, PhD
hardwidg@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Phil Hardwidge studies several virotypes of E. coli causing diarrhea and malnutrition in humans and livestock.
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Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD
bhh@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Brian Herrin’s primary research objectives are focused on the epidemiology and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Some of his recent interests are the epidemiology Lyme borreliosis in humans and dogs in North America, evaluation of diagnostic assays for tick-borne diseases, and surveillance of ticks and tick-borne diseases of horses. Although his research focus is on ticks, Dr. Herrin enjoys working with all parasites of veterinary importance through the diagnostic service and teaching/outreach opportunities. |
Lindsey Hulbert, BS, MS, PhD lhulbert@k-state.edu Associate Professor, Animal Science
Dr. Lindsey Hulbert's research is focused on the development and validation of automated technologies to monitor health and welfare of domestic animals, understanding the effects of early-life stressors on nutritive and non-nutritive oral behaviors and immunity in calves, improving resilience to stressors and immunocomptence through housing, management, and feeding strategies in calves and pigs, and determining biomarkers of stress and inflammation for predicting and identifying disease.
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Maria Jugan, DVM, MS, DACVIM
mjugan@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences
Dr. Maria Jugan’s research interests are in feline and canine gastrointestinal disease, nutrient malabsorption in feline IBD, alterations in enteroendocrine responses in IBD, and therapeutic manipulations (e.g. fecal transplantation, probiotics) of the GI microbiome and metabolome in both acute and chronic small animal enteropathies.
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Yunjeong Kim, DVM, PhD, DACVM ykim@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Yunjeong Kim is interested in the development of therapeutic agents for small animal viral diseases including feline infectious peritonitis and feline calicivirus infection as well as understanding the role of host cellular proteases in viral pathogenesis.
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Kim Kirkpatrick, PhD
kirkpatr@ksu.edu University Distinguished Professor, Psychological Sciences
Dr. Kim Kirkpatrick studies the role of timing and reward processes in determining impulsive and risky choice in rats.
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Michael Kleinhenz, DVM, PhD mkleinhe@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences.
Food animal therapeutics and pain assessment in food animals.
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Butch KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVCP
skukanic@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Evaluation and design of rational drug dosages through the use of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic studies.
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Kate KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
kstenske@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Clinical Sciences
One Health research including antimicrobial stewardship, hand hygiene, zoonotic diseases, fungal disease, UTIs, and opioids.
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Robert Larson, DVM, PhD
rlarson@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Clinical Sciences
Investigation of the role of disease in beef cattle on production efficiency, evaluation of disease intervention strategies.
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Dylan Lutter, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, CERP, CAC dlutter@vet.k-state.edu Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences
Regenerative medicine, wound healing, equine rehabilitation therapies
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Jessica Meekins, DVM, DACVO
jslack@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences
Dr. Jessica Meekins’ clinical research interests include management of viral surface ocular diseases in cats and investigating comparative ophthalmology in exotic/non-domestic species.
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Kristin Michel, PhD
kmichel@ksu.edu Associate Professor, Biology
Dr. Kristen Michel studies host-pathogen interactions important for malaria and arboviral disease transmission. |
Thomas Mueller, PhD
muellert@ksu.edu Research Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Thomas Mueller studies evolutionary and developmental neuroscience, brain atlases, forebrain evolution, neural circuits of emotion, and amygdala-hypothalamic connectivity.
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Timothy Musch, PhD
musch@vet.k-state.edu University Distinguished Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
The mechanisms associated with the large degree of exercise intolerance that develops in the chronic heart failure (CHF) syndrome.
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Waithaka Mwangi, PhD
wmwangi@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
My research is focused on development of livestock vaccines, immune stimulants for adjuvant development, and antibody-based human and companion animal therapeutics.
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T.G. Nagaraja, BVSc, MVSc, PhD
tnagaraj@vet.k-state.edu University Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Microbiology
My research interest is in the field of Gut Microbiology of cattle and swine, particularly on the role of microbes in gut function and dysfunction. Currently, my laboratory is involved in the following research areas: Foodborne pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter, and antimicrobial resistance of gut bacteria in cattle and swine; bacterial flora of liver abscesses, virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms of Fusobacterium necrophorum, with the long term goal of developing an efficacious vaccine.
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Megan C. Niederwerder, DVM, PhD mniederwerder@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Megan Niederwerder's laboratory is focused on investigating viral diseases of swine, including the role of the microbiome in outcome following viral infection and the risks for viral introduction and transmission.
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Leela Norohna, DVM, PhD
leela.noronha@usda.gov USDA Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit Adjunct Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. Leela Noronha studies the interactions of mammalian hosts, insect vectors, and viral pathogens involved in the transmission of arboviral diseases. She currently focuses on emerging and re-emerging diseases that affect livestock, wildlife, and humans, including Japanese encephalitis and Rift Valley fever. |
Yoonseong Park, PhD
ypark@ksu.edu Professor, Entomology
Dr. Yoonseong Park studies arthropod signaling peptides and their receptors, signaling pathways for tick salivary secretion, and mechanisms of systemic RNA interference.
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Charles Pickens, PhD
pickens@ksu.edu Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences
Dr. Charles Pickens studies how exposure to CNS depressants can lead to long-term alterations in the brain circuits involved in learning, memory, and decision making.
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David Poole, MS, PhD poole@vet.k-state.edu University Distinguished Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Pulmonary gas exchange, O2 transport and muscle microcirculation in health and determining the mechanistic bases for dysfunction in chronic disease (i.e., emphysema, heart failure, diabetes) and also aging.
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Punit Prakash, PhD prakashp@k-state.edu Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Punit Prakash’s research is focused on developing technologies for enabling precise image-guided medical and cancer interventions, including microwave thermal therapy with MRI guidance.
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David Renter, DVM, PhD
drenter@vet.k-state.edu Professor, and Director Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. David Renter’s research emphasizes the application and extension of epidemiologic principles and methods to enhance health and disease management. His outcomes-based research enables valid data-driven decisions to improve animal health/well-being, food safety, production efficiency, and economic viability of health systems. |
Kathryn Reif, MSPH, PhD
kreif@vet.k-state.edu Associate Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
My laboratory is interested in ticks and tick-borne diseases. We use a combination of in vitro and in vivo experimental models to study the determinants of pathogen infection in the tick vector, and how these infection determinants ultimately effect pathogen transmission from the tick. Projects in the lab range from basic to applied research, including: examining mechanisms of pathogen entry into tick host cells, ecological drivers of bovine anaplasmosis, and evaluation of novel tick repellents. The tick-borne pathogens we commonly work with are Anaplasma spp, Ehrlichia spp. Rickettsia spp, and Francisella spp.
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Juergen, Richt, DVM, PhD
jricht@vet.k-state.edu Regents Distinguished Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Emerging zoonotic diseases, in particular influenze, rift valley, and prion diseases.
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Michael Sanderson, MS, DVM
sandersn@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
The broad focus of my research is the application of Epidemiologic principles, Analytical Methods, Risk Assessment and Simulation Modeling to disease risk and facilitate decision making in Beef Production systems. Much of this research has focused on the epidemiology and ecology of beef safety and security particularly related to E. coli O157 and other shiga-toxin producing E. coli. We also have potential risk assessment and modeling projects in Bovine Respiratory Disease, BVD, and Foot and Mouth Disease.
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Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD
tscherme@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Clinical Sciences
Comparative glucose metabolism and diabetes.
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Bruce Schultz, PhD bschultz@vet.k-state.edu
Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Defining the physiological mechanisms of epithelial ion transport in selected tissues and species.
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Stephanie Shames, PhD
sshames@ksu.edu Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Stephanie Shames studies Legionella pneumophila, specifically host-pathogen interactions, bacterial pathogenesis, and cellular microbiology.
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Jishu Shi, DVM, MS, PhD
jshi@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Jishu Shi’s research programs focus on the development of novel vaccine technologies for animal infectious diseases. His team is currently evaluating novel adjuvants and strategies for vaccines targeting porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, swine influenza virus, porcine circovirus, and avian influenza virus. In addition, his team is also investigating the molecular mechanisms of IL-1beta release from macrophages and the role of IL-1beta in macrophage-cancer stem cell interactions.
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Kris Silver, PhD
ksilver@ksu.edu Research Assistant Professor, Entomology
Dr. Silver researches the physiological and molecular interactions between insects and insecticides.
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Masaaki Tamura, DVM, PhD
mtamura@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
My research focuses on cancer therapy and chemoprevention, specifically immune checkpoint blockade therapy, gene therapy, and nanoparticle-based chemotherapy for lung cancer. We also study natural product-based therapy and chemoprevention for lung, colon, breast and pancreatic cancer. Our research involves both in vitro cell culture and mouse study.
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Dr. Dana Vanlandingham, MS, PhD
dlvanlan@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
My research is focused on viruses transmitted by mosquitoes; the interactions between the virus, mosquito vector, and vertebrate host. Our multidisciplinary research encompasses both basic molecular virology and applied research: novel vaccine development/evaluation, diagnostics, and virus transmission potential in vectors and hosts. Current research projects include: Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses.
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Dr. Abbie Viscardi, PhD
aviscardi@vet.k-state.edu Research Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
My research focus is on animal behavior and welfare. I am currently studying analgesia use in piglets to alleviate surgical castration and tail docking pain.
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Mark Weiss, BS, PhD
Weiss@vet.k-state.edu Professor, Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Weiss' research focus is on stem cell biotechnology. His lab successfully produced various stem cell lines such as rat embryonic stem cells and cells derived from umbilical chord or other tissues with the intent of using this technology to advance cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. His lab is focused upon producing promising cellular therapeutics for regenerative medicine.
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Brad White, MS, DVM
bwhite@vet.k-state.edu Professor and Director of Beef Cattle Institute, Clinical Sciences
Preventative and therapeutic options for cattle health, primary area of emphasis in bovine respiratory disease.
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William Whitehouse, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) wwhitehouse@vet.k-state.edu Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences
Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats, oxidative stress, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, utility of minimally invasive procedures in veterinary medicine.
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William Wilson, PhD
william.wilson@ars.usda.gov USDA Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit Adjunct Professor, Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology
Dr. William Wilson’s research focuses on using molecular evolution, biochemical and genomic approaches to understand the interactions of arboviruses with their mammalian and invertebrate hosts. This work has also led to the development of diagnostic and control strategies. His current research is directed toward developing early detection/characterization and countermeasures for arboviruses affecting livestock and wildlife.
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Zhilong Yang, PhD
zyang@ksu.edu Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Zhilong Yang studies viral and host cell gene expression during viral infection, specifically poxvirus.
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Anna Zinovyeva, PhD
zinovyeva@ksu.edu Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Anna Zinovyeva studies post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, RNA biology, and microRNA biogenesis and function.
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Anna Zolkiewska, PhD
zolkiea@ksu.edu Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Dr. Anna Zolkiewska studies the role of metalloprotease ADAM12 in breast tumor development, metastasis, recurrence, and response to therapy.
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