Research & Funding
With niche strengths in immunology and host-pathogen interactions, Penn Vet is an integral part of the biomedical community here at the University of Pennsylvania. We bring a valuable and significant component to the investigation, surveillance, and prevention of zoonotic emerging and reemerging infectious diseases within local, regional, and global contexts.
Finding answers to local problems that lead to global solutions
Our team is uniquely positioned to:
- Direct and administer basic research on pathogenesis of infectious agents
- Validate vaccine candidates for infectious diseases
- Leverage new and existing diagnostic tools to accelerate comprehensive surveillance of wildlife health
- Activate and inform an array of investigative and diagnostic information networks across multiple states
- Expand the skill-sets of veterinarians, infectious disease specialists, and public health professionals to address a wide range of potential disease scenarios
| Year | Title | PI(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | A comparative analysis of colonization rates and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from human clinical, agricultural, environmental, and animal husbandry settings in Botswana. | Laurel Redding, Naledi Mannathoko | $50,000 |
| 2023 | Role for X-Chromosome Inactivation in female-biased enhancement of immune responses to influenza | Montserrat Anguera | $50,000 |
| 2023 | Exploring the Threat of Tick-Borne Diseases on the Galápagos Islands: A Community-Based Initiative on San Cristóbal Island. | Ricardo Castillo-Neyra, Daniel Beiting | $27,397.50 |
| 2023 | Estimated prevalence, taxonomic diversity, and zoonotic implications of gastrointestinal helminths isolated from free-ranging mustelids in the mid-Atlantic, USA. | Kevin Niedringhaus, Caroline Sobotyk | $22,602.50 |
| Year | Title | PI(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Development of an Organoid Model System to Study SARS-CoV-2 in White-Tailed Deer | Elizabeth Lennon, Susan Weiss | $50,000 |
| 2022 | Evaluation of Free Ranging Deer as a Reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 | Eman Anis, Erick Gagne | $15,000 (matching funds from ITMAT) |
| 2022 | Evaluation of UV-C Disinfection Technology for Veterinary Settings | Stephen Cole | $35,000 |
| 2022 | Metagenomic Control of mRNA Vaccine Efficiency | Norbert Pardi, Thomas Schaer, and Christoph Thaiss | $50,000 |
The 2024 Martin and Pamela Winter Infectious Disease Pre-Doctoral Fellows
Raegan Petch, University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Paul F. Bates, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania
Project Overview: I am working to develop a second-generation recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (rVSV-SFTSV). First generation vaccines are highly attenuated in cell culture, which makes it difficult to produce sufficient vaccine for clinical trials. I am introducing mutations to the glycoprotein of SFTSV that we hypothesize will increase the replication capacity of the virus in vitro and in vivo and improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in animal models.
Daana Roach, University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Kathryn Hamilton, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Philadelphia
Project Overview: Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), initially identified as a neutrophilic protein for innate immunity, has broader roles. Our lab found LCN2 expression in the intestinal epithelium of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, not in healthy subjects. The impact of epithelial-specific LCN2 on function and physiology is less understood. Goblet cells, a secretory cell type in the intestinal epithelium, express LCN2 and secrete mucus, including antimicrobial peptides like LCN2, affecting the epithelium-luminal contents interaction. LCN2 also influences immune cell activity. In IBD, chronic inflammation occurs due to persistent intestinal epithelium injury and repeated exposure of mucosal immune cells to luminal contents. The effect of epithelial-specific LCN2 on immune cell activity in IBD and at homeostasis is unclear. The project aims to understand how goblet-cell expression of LCN2 influences cell function in IBD and epithelial-immune interaction.
Helen Stillwell, University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Susan R. Weiss, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania
Project Overview: In 2012, wild-type MERS-CoV spilled over from camels into humans in Saudi Arabia, causing severe lower respiratory tract disease with a mortality rate of 36%. In northern Africa, related clade C MERS viruses circulate in camels, but to not appear to cause disease in humans. Helen is studying the differences in the innate immune response to these viruses in human and camelid primary nasal epithelial air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures to better understand this divergence in pathogenicity.
Abigail Daniels, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Investigating the molecular mechanisms of gamete interaction in Cryptosporidium
- Mentor: Boris Striepen, PhD, Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Christien Patrick M. Exconde, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Uncovering and characterizing the mechanism of Toxoplasma gondii induced pyroptosis
- Mentor: Cornelius Taabazuing, PhD; Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Mears, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Investigating the role of interferon lambda in protection against severe Clostridioides difficile infection
- Mentor: Michael C. Abt, PhD; Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Matthew Martinez, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Defining invasion strategies of malaria parasites
- Mentor: Yi-Wei Chang, PhD; Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Khabadire Tlotleng, Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Project: Identification of Canine parvovirus variants
- Mentor: Eman Anis, DVM, MVSc, PhD, ACVM; Assistant Professor of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania