Virginia Tech® home

Home

Research at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Lab vials in a blue rack.
Accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, ViTALS is the on-site interdisciplinary diagnostic laboratory of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

About

Research Focus Areas 2021

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has a robust research program that spans basic biomedical sciences in infectious (viral, bacterial, and parasitic) and non-infectious (immune-mediated and oncologic) diseases to veterinary clinical research to translational to public health. The program's overall goal is to apply our research to improve the lives of pets and people.

  • Basic biomedical sciences include the use of appropriate animal models for diseases to better understand the disease process, a prerequisite for the development of better preventive and therapeutic strategies.

  • With a focus on One Health, our program brings together veterinarians, physicians, and other scientists to address public health threats affecting both people and animals.

  • Our translational research approach aims to take laboratory findings directly to clients in a clinical setting.

  • Ongoing clinical trials in our hospitals test research discoveries to develop better methods of disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Our faculty, students, staff, and research partners are committed to discovery, service, and training future researchers and veterinarians.

Centers

  • Article Item
    COHR header photo.
    Center for One Health Research , article

    The Center for One Health Research (COHR) gathers faculty, staff, and students from VA-MD Vet Med and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine who have a shared interest in cooperative research and scholarship related to infectious diseases. This collaboration is founded on the two schools’ One Health philosophy, which is based on the understanding that animal health, human health, and the environment are inextricably linked; consequently, professionals from these fields must work together to protect, promote, and improve overall health. The center coordinates research, instruction, and outreach activities related to understanding the disease processes that affect both animal and human health, and supports the continued advancement of the science and technology of disease-intervention strategies.

  • Article Item
    Boris Vinatzer working in the lab.
    (Meta)Genomics-Based Pathogen Identification Center for Animal and Plant Disease Diagnostics, Biosecurity, and Pandemic Prevention , article

    Today’s growing destruction of ecosystems, worldwide trade of plant and animals, and human travel exasperate the risk of plant and animal disease emergence and spread. Early detection, precise identification, and thorough characterization of emerging pathogens using agnostic genomic and metagenomic sequencing could lead to faster interventions to lower the chances that a local disease outbreak turns into an epidemic or pandemic. Therefore, at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services and the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic joined forces to establish a (meta)genomics-based pathogen identification service center for animal and plant disease diagnostics, biosecurity, and pandemic prevention.

Signature Research Programs

  • Article Item
    Translational Medicine
    Comparative, Translational, and Veterinary Research , article

    Research themes include clinical veterinary medicine research and translational medicine from laboratory animals to clinical veterinary and human patients; stem cell biology and its application; clinical trials management; and human-animal bond/interactions.

  • Article Item
    Inflammatory Disease
    Immune-mediated / Inflammatory Diseases Research , article

    Research themes include animal models for immune-mediated diseases, and understanding the mechanisms of such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases (eg. inflammatory bowel disease). Specific interests include role of epigenetics, microbiome, and environmental hormonal factors on these diseases; transition of inflammation leading to cancer; induction of immunity in oncologic conditions; and translational research.

  • Article Item
    Neuropathobiology
    Neuropathobiology Research , article

    Research themes include animal models for neurodevelopment and traumatic injury, neurovascularization, neuroinflammation, and neuro-oncology; and translational research.

  • Article Item
    Infectious Disease
    Pathogenic Microbiology / Infectious Diseases Research , article

    Research themes include animal models for human and veterinary infectious diseases; and understanding the pathogenesis of the diseases, immunity to infectious and its prevention: development of vaccines and drugs, mechanisms of drug resistance, and translational research.

  • Article Item
    Public Health - Epidemiology
    Public Health Research , article

    Research focused on infectious diseases epidemiology and public health education that addresses the individual, social, and ecological determinants of health, reflects the human-animal-environment One Health interface, promotes health equity, and builds healthy communities.

Latest News