Faculty Mentors

Faculty mentors

*The following is by no means a complete list of possible mentors. Mentors may also be selected from other colleges across the university or from outside Texas A&M University with prior approval.

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MENTORProjects in Clinical and Translational Science in Physiology, Pathophysiology and Developmental Biology
Donald Brightsmith, VTPB, Hill Country AviaryComparative ophthalmology with a focus on the ocular microbiome and clinical parameters of exotic species
Noah Cohen, VLCS NCohen@cvm.tamu.edu1. Evaluate different stimuli to induce innate immune memory in equine monocytes and their effects on intracellular killing and cell metabolism
2. Evaluate the effects of blocking surface receptors on equine monocytes in the immune response to R. equi infection (intracellular killing, gene expression, and activation of pathways, etc.)
Michelle Coleman, VLCS Coleman@cvm.tamu.eduIdentify differences in inflammatory and metabolic responses in obese and non-obese asthmatic horses
Kate Creevy, VSCS kcreevy@cvm.tamu.eduDog aging project: descriptive report of labwork findings in mature adult and senior dogs in the DAP Precision cohort whose owners reported them to be healthy at the time
Lindsay Dawson, VTPP ldawson@cvm.tamu.eduRegulation of mouse digit regeneration
Dana Gaddy, VIBS dgaddy@cvm.tamu.eduExplaining muscle weakness and bone mineralization defects in sheep hypophosphatasia
Mike Golding, VTPP mgolding@cvm.tamu.eduImaging fetal hearts of alcohol-exposed offspring in mice
Greg Johnson, VIBS gjohnson@cvm.tamu.eduRegulation of placentation, maternal fetal interactions in the pig
Chuck Long, VTPP clong@cvm.tamu.eduEquine TNF Receptor blockade of inflammation in horse cells
Annie Newell-Fugate, VTPP Anewell-fugate@cvm.tamu.eduAssess androgen effects on mouse white adipose tissue mitochondrial function & its contribution to insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome
Mary Nabity, VTPB mnabity@cvm.tamu.eduBiomarkers and pathogenesis of kidney disease in dogs
Steve Safe, VTPP ssafe@cvm.tamu.eduDevelopment of ligand for the orphan nuclear receptor 4A and their applications in cancer, endometriosis and neuronal diseases in mice
Erin Scott, VSCS/ Schubot escott@cvm.tamu.eduID ophthalmic parameters of cockatiels or Quaker parrots
Larry Suva, VTPP lsuva@cvm.tamu.edu Bone repair mechanisms in mouse models of Down Syndrome

MENTOR
Projects in Infection & Immunity and Epidemiology Research
Helene Andrews-Polymenis,  HSC, MPIM handrews@tamu.eduUse mouse genetics to understand the host determinants that contribute to different disease outcomes after infection with bacterial pathogens
Angela Bordin, VTPB abordin@cvm.tamu.eduHost-pathogen interaction in horses and foals, innate immune memory, and diagnostics of equine infectious diseases
Jeffrey Cirillo,
HSC, MPIM jdcirillo@tamu.edu
Developing interventions for respiratory diseases including COVID-19, tuberculosis, and pneumonias
Paul de Figueiredo, COM pdefigueiredo@tamu.eduHost-viral pathogen interactions: BLOS1 control of innate immunity against viral pathogens; Biotechnology development
Mike Criscitiello, VTPB mcriscitiello@cvm.tamu.eduEvolution of the vertebrate adaptive immune system, immunogenetic diversification of lymphocyte antigen receptors (I,I & E)
Sarah Hamer, VIBS
shamer@cvm.tamu.edu
1- Projects related to wildlife/domestic animal emerging zoonotic disease ecology and 2- Project to advance the mission of the Schubot Center for Avian Health
Sara Lawhon, Laura Bryan, VTPB
slawhon@cvm.tamu.edu
Antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogenesis of bacterial pathogens of veterinary patients, with emphasis on Staphylococcus species, Campylobacter species, and Salmonella. Projects are developed through discussions between prospective students and Dr. Lawhon and take into consideration the individual student’s long-term career goals. Additional projects in the detection of novel pathogens in veterinary patients are available
Keri Norman, VIBS knorman@cvm.tamu.eduEpidemiology of bacterial foodborne pathogens at the interface between agriculture and human health
Meriam Saleh, VTPB msaleh@cvm.tamu.edu Parasitology, particularly diagnosis/molecular characterization of canine intestinal parasites; tick-borne diseases; improved diagnosis of heartworm
James Samuel, COM jsamuel@medicine@tamhsc.eduImmunologic model of skin sensitivity; infection-based studies to test virulence in a SCID mouse model of acute Q fever
Guilherme Verocai, VTPB gverocai@cvm.tamu.edu1. Advancing molecular diagnostics of zoonotic, vector-borne nematodes of domestic and wild carnivores (e.g., dogs, cats, wild canids
2. Understanding the biodiversity and phylogenetic relationships of parasitic nematodes of wild North American ungulates (e.g., bison, cervids)
Zhilong Yang, VTPB yang@cvm.tamu.edu1. Identifying host factors that affect poxvirus replication
2. identifying anti-poxvirus compounds
3. developing vaccinia virus-based anti-cancer agents and vaccines against other infectious diseases through collaborative efforts
VERO, CANYON Texas Mentors and Projects 2023
Paul Morley, VERO
pmorley@cvm.tamu.edu
Use sequencing, bioinformatic and statistical analyses to investigate the relationship between microbial community structures and diseases in cattle or horses
Robert Valeris-Chacin, VTPB, VERO
rvalerischacin@tamu.edu
Whole genome sequencing of respiratory pathogens in cattle, with emphasis in Mycoplasma, in order to get insights of their phylogeny, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes
Matthew Scott, VTPB, VERO mascott@cvm.tamu.eduHigh throughput host transcriptomics to predict risk and severity of bovine respiratory disease in beef cattle