The University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center recently welcomed two experienced researchers to its infectious disease program.
Feng Li has been appointed William Robert Mills Chair in Equine Infectious Diseases and Dan Wang joins the department as a virologist. Both Li and Wang come to the UK from South Dakota State University.
“I am extremely pleased that Dr. Feng Li and Dr. Dan Wang have joined our program. Their combined expertise in viral respiratory diseases will complement and enhance the equine infectious disease program at the Gluck Center,” said David Horohov, chair of the Department of Veterinary Sciences, director of the Gluck Equine Research Center, and the Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair. “I know our students, faculty, and stakeholders will greatly benefit from their presence in our department.”
Dr. Feng Li
Li, who officially began his service on July 1, was previously a professor of biology and microbiology in SDSU's veterinary and biomedical sciences departments. He earned an equivalent degree in veterinary medicine from Qingdao Agricultural University, formerly known as Laiyang Agricultural University in Shandong, China, and his master's degree from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Harbin, China. Li then completed his doctorate at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.
Li's lab is focused on understanding, treating, and preventing communicable diseases caused by viral pathogens. His lab is currently studying several enveloped RNA viruses that cause severe disease in humans and livestock, including zoonotic influenza A virus, HIV, and emerging infectious disease agents such as Zika virus and influenza D virus. His lab is working to better understand the dynamics and interactions between viral pathogens and hosts, with the goal of using this information to develop next-generation vaccines and antiviral therapeutic strategies.
Significant past contributions to the field of virology include a change in the classification of equine rhinovirus 1 and the development of the first genetically engineered, live attenuated vaccine against equine infectious anemia virus, together with several researchers, including Charles Issel of the Gluck Center, which led to a US patent on the EIA vaccine and EIA diagnostics.
In addition, his HIV research while at Panacos Pharmaceuticals led to the discovery of the first antiviral drug for horses. While at South Dakota State University, Li's group discovered novel zoonotic influenza viruses with cattle as the primary reservoir, leading to the proposal to name the group of up-to-date influenza viruses as influenza D type. The up-to-date group was recently approved by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses and the virology community. His group published the first manuscript providing evidence that the up-to-date virus could infect horses. Li is currently receiving a prestigious grant from the National Institutes of Health for his work with the influenza D virus.
“I am very excited and honored to join the infectious disease research team at the Gluck Equine Research Center. When I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, I worked closely with Dr. Charles Issel's group on equine infectious anemia virus,” Li said. “In recent years, we have collaborated with Dr. Thomas Chambers' group on equine influenza as well as the influenza D virus that we discovered in U.S. cattle and swine herds.
Dr. And Money
Wang began working in the department on August 1. She will serve as an assistant professor of research and will focus on contributing to the ongoing research program in equine virology, with a primary focus on influenza viruses.
Given his extensive experience in the field, Wang is expected to contribute to current research programs and establish a up-to-date research direction in the department. This additional expertise in virology is expected to further strengthen an already mighty program.
Prior to joining the Gluck Center, Wang was an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology at South Dakota State University, where she also served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences and earned her PhD in Biology and Microbiology. She earned master's degrees from both the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and the University of Yanbian in Jilin, China, and a bachelor's degree from Nanjing Agricultural University in China.
Wang's research interests include influenza viruses, porcine coronavirus, and HIV maturation inhibitors.
“I am very excited to join the world-renowned Gluck Equine Research Center, which has a world-class research team in equine infectious diseases,” said Wang. “Their unique approach of partnering with industry to develop solutions and improve equine health really appeals to me.”
“My research interests are in emerging viral diseases in animals, particularly those caused by enveloped RNA viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses, and the development of effective countermeasures. I look forward to collaborating with Gluck colleagues and industry partners in the field of emerging viral diseases in horses,” she said.
Gluck Equine Research Center
The mission of the Gluck Equine Research Center is scientific discovery, education and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the health and well-being of horses.
The Gluck Center faculty conduct equine research in seven target areas: genetics and genomics, immunology, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal science, parasitology, pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology, and reproductive health.
The Gluck Equine Research Center, a British agricultural horse program, is part of the Department of Veterinary Science in the School of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky.
