Current Professional Activities

• 2014-present Professor-tenured, Immunology & Immunotoxicology, CVM-UGA, Athens, GA
• 2020-present Director, Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program, CVM-UGA, Athens, GA
• 2021-present Assistant Dean of Research, CVM-UGA, Athens, GA

Past Professional Activities

• 1982-1988 Medical Technologist, Immunology, American Medical Laboratories, Manassas, VA
• 1992-1995 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Autoimmunity (Mentor: Dr. Ansar Ahmed), VT, VA
• 1995-1998 Research Scientist, Immunotoxicology (Mentor: Dr. Steven Holladay), VMRCVM, VT, VA
• 1998-2006 Research Assistant Professor, Immunotoxicology, VMRCVM, VT, Blacksburg, VA
• 2002-2006 Associate Professor and Chair, Medical Immunology, Via College of Osteopathic Med,
  Blacksburg, VA
• 2007-2008 Associate Professor, Immunology, VMRCVM, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
• 2009-2013 Associate Professor-tenured, Immunology & Immunotoxicology,
  College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• VT- Virginia Tech, Virginia Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

• 1998-Present Panelist, USEPA Star Fellowship Review, 1999-Present Reviewer, CREES, USDA,
• 2000-Present Reviewer, Hatch Program Grants, USDA, 2003-2005 Member, Toxicology Study Section,
• NCI, NIH, 2009 ARRA Nanosafety Grant Opportunity Review (ZES1 SET-V (04) 1),
• 2010- Present Panelist, USEPA Star Fellowship Review, Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
• 2010 Nanotoxicology (U19 applications) Review (ZES1 SET-V 03),
• 2011 Recipient of the Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence,
• 2011 Human Health Effects of Dietary Influences and Environmental Exposures (R21 applications, ZES1 LWJ-J DI 2)
• 2012 Children’s Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research Centers, P01 applications, ZES1 LWJ-K- (PO) 2,
• 2014 Member, Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society
• 2015 Dr. Fred C. Davison Award, Outstanding Vet Service,
• 2016 NIH Superfund P42 ZES1-LKB KS

Special Interests

• Developmental and Environmental Immunotoxicology
• Cancer Immunology

Memberships

• Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Member, Society of Toxicology
• Member, Teratology Society, Member, American Association of Immunologists
• Member, American Association of Veterinary Immunologists, Member, Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society

Current Research/Clinical Interests

• I have been active in the field of clinical and environmental immunology, immunotoxicology, autoimmunity, autoimmune disease, and cancer research for approximately 28 years and have been a PI, Co-PI, and Co-I on NIH, DOD, and industry grants. During this period, my colleagues and I have studied the effects of estrogenic compounds and numerous environmental contaminants (i.e. TCDD) on the immune system during development and through adult life, with a heavy focus on B cell and T cell development, inflammatory mediators, T cell and B cell signaling, cell transcription pathways and the influence they have on inducing, immune modulation and autoimmune disease (i.e. Lupus).
• Based on my veterinary training, I am also well versed and skilled in many animal species (i.e. rodents, birds (domestic and wild), dogs, cats, swine, horses, and cattle) including exotics (i.e. fish, alligators, and snakes) and have conducted studies across many of them, which has allowed me to branch out in many areas of research. 

Family

• Married (39 yrs): Wife Nancy, Sons – Nick and Jon

Pets

• Cat-Aslan (wife’s pet)
• Dogs: I have had collies for 36 yrs. I am currently in between collies and I am waiting for the nod from my wife to get another.

Hobbies

• Model Railroading, Biking, Wood Working (Top 3)

What I like most about VIN

• It’s a great platform to share knowledge and interact with colleagues.