College Experts

Researchers and extension faculty in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are playing important roles in the fight against influenza viruses, working to understand disease transmission, enhance detection and diagnosis, and educate agricultural producers and the public about disease prevention and biosecurity.

The following College of Agricultural Sciences experts can serve as media sources for stories related to H1N1 Influenza A:

Ottar Bjornstad, Ph.D. (office: 814-863-2983; cell: 814-441-4485; onb1@psu.edu), professor of entomology and biology and co-director of Penn State's Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. Dr. Bjornstad has studied host-pathogen interactions and the population dynamics that influence the spread of infectious diseases, including viral diseases such as influenza and measles.

John Enck, VMD (814-863-0838; jie2@psu.edu), senior research associate and director of Penn State's Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. Formerly the Pennsylvania state veterinarian and director of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, Dr. Enck can discuss disease eradication and regulatory issues and the role of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks.

Lester Griel, VMD (814-865-7696; lcg1@psu.edu), professor of veterinary science. Dr. Griel teaches in the areas of general animal health, herd-health management, and cardiac and respiratory physiology. He has studied strategies for reducing aerosol transmission of influenza virus in pigs.

Biao He, Ph.D. (814-863-8533; bxh40@psu.edu), associate professor of virology in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Among Dr. He's areas of research is the development of vaccines to convey immunity against strains of influenza A.

Bhushan Jayarao, MVSc, Ph.D., MPH (until Aug. 9: 814-571-1772; after Aug. 9: 814-863-5939; bmj3@psu.edu), extension veterinarian and professor of veterinary science. Dr. Jayarao's areas of interest include zoonoses (diseases communicable between animals and humans) and issues related to animal production and human health.

Vivek Kapur, BVSc, Ph.D. (814-865-7696; vkapur@psu.edu), professor and head of veterinary and biomedical sciences. Dr. Kapur is internationally recognized for his research in microbial genomics and is best known for his pioneering work in completely sequencing the genomes of several of the world's major human and animal pathogens. A key advisor to the NIH Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance, he can provide insights into how microbes cause disease and discuss the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines.

Kenneth Kephart, Ph.D. (814-863-3671; kbk2@psu.edu), professor of animal science. Dr. Kephart oversees swine management educational programs. He can discuss best production practices and the implementation of biosecurity measures for swine producers.

Jacob Werner, VMD (814-865-1495; jrw140@psu.edu), assistant professor of veterinary medicine and dairy and animal science. Dr. Werner is Penn State's attending veterinarian for agricultural animals and wildlife. He can address animal-health issues and talk about biosecurity and health-management practices utilized with Penn State's herds.

David Wolfgang, VMD, DABVP (814- 863-5849; drw12@psu.edu), extension veterinarian and field studies director in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Wolfgang can discuss biosecurity, disease prevention and herd-health promotion.