Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens

Today at 3:30pm in Fralin Auditorium

"Developing pre-clinical animal models and novel vaccines for Cache Valley virus; an emerging Orthobunyavirus in North America."

Five faculty members elected to the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine The new members are Cayelan Carey, William "Bill" Hopkins, Liwu Li, Hesham Rakha, and Julie Ross.

Congratulations to CeZAP affiliated Liwu Li

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Today at 3:30pm 📍 Location: Fralin Auditorium

"Virus Vectors as Delivery Vehicles for Peptides and siRNAs: The Future of Crop Protection?"

BREATHE research teams kick off efforts to enhance indoor air quality to improve health, advance the future of smart buildings The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supports transformative research to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs ranging from molecular to societal to provide transformative hea...

I'm thrilled to be leading, along with AJ Prussin II, an ARPA-H BREATHE team that will integrate new biosensors, risk assessment software, and engineering controls to bring clean and healthy indoor air to more buildings.

arpah.gov/news-and-eve...

People in conference room at the UN building

The global pledge for healthy indoor air: That clean indoor air is a fundamental human right for protecting health and safeguarding well-being

The momentum for clean indoor air continues to build. I attended the inaugural High-Level Side Event on indoor air quality at the UN General Assembly yesterday. Short remarks by Lidia Morawska @joeallenjoe.bsky.social @isiaq.bsky.social Pres. Kerry Kinney, ASHRAE, WHO, UNEP, many others.

A smarter way to control mosquitoes Scientists have developed a new method to separate nonbiting male mosquitoes from disease-carrying females, a breakthrough that could make mosquito control faster, cheaper, and easier to scale.

New research findings from #VirginiaTech could make mosquito control faster, cheaper, and easier to scale. 🦟

🗓️ Tuesday, Sept 23 • 3:30 PM
📍 Fralin Auditorium

Join us today for CeZAP SPARK: the 5th ID IGEP Cohort will present research from their first lab rotations

Bryan Hsu awarded faculty fellowship A member of the Virginia Tech community since 2020, Hsu is involved in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program as well as in several programmatic functions of the Center for Emerging Zoono...

Congratulations to CeZAP affiliate Bryan Hsu, assistant professor of biological sciences, on receiving the Blackwood Junior Faculty Fellowship!

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

See you today at 3:30pm in Fralin Auditorium

"Tackling HPAI H5N1 with a One Health Approach"

Rana Ashkar awarded faculty fellowship Ashkar is a recognized investigator in soft matter and biological physics. Her research on biomimetic lipid membranes, responsive polymeric systems, and tunable bio-interfaces has gained widespread in...

🎉 Congratulations to CeZAP affiliate Rana Ashkar! 🧪✨

Rana Ashkar, Associate Professor of Physics in the College of Science, has been awarded the Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellowship by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors! 👏

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Join us today at 3:30pm
📍 Location: Fralin Auditorium

"The Bedside as the Blueprint: Designing Infectious Diseases Research Around Patient Needs"

Virginia Tech is excited to shine a spotlight on the amazing research being led by our #postdocs during our 3rd annual Postdoc Scholars Showcase taking place at the Inn at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, September 17th, 8:30-11:45 AM.
List of presenters:
www.research.vt.edu/about/postdo...

See you today at 3:30 pm in Fralin Auditorium

Virginia Tech conducting NRV Lyme Disease study Virginia Tech graduate students and a professor are conducting research to study the impact of Lyme Disease in the New River Valley.

🧪 CeZAP affiliate Korine Kolivras is leading a study on Lyme disease in the New River Valley. 🦠 Locals may be eligible to participate—help fight the spread of tick-borne illness! 🌿

🔗 Details: www.wdbj7.com/2025/08/19/v...

We’re back! 🎉 The CeZAP SPARK seminar series resumes today Tues, Aug 26 @ 3:30 PM in Fralin Auditorium.
Kickoff speaker: Christopher Jones, PhD (Montana State Univ.)
🧫 “Biofilm biology at the interface of industry & academia”

Excited to shine a spotlight on the amazing research being led by #postdocs @virginiatech.bsky.social during our 3rd annual Postdoc Scholars Showcase taking place at the Inn at Virginia Tech the morning of Sept 17th. If you are in the area we invite you to attend! www.research.vt.edu/about/postdo...

Now entering its 4th year, Virginia Tech's Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program seeks to recruit talented #postdocs to work w/ our amazing faculty. We will hold 3 online information sessions for prospective postdocs in Sept & Oct.
www.research.vt.edu/about/postdo...

Promotional graphic for “Ripples of Change,” an immersive exhibit on public perception of global change, to be featured at the 44th Steppin’ Out festival. The event takes place August 1–2, 2025, from 10AM to 10PM on Draper Road at Booths D23/D23A. The graphic includes a globe logo and festival imagery with icons for art, crafts, music, shopping, and food.

🌎 Visit Ripples of Change at Steppin’ Out (Aug 1–2), Booth D23/D23A (Zone B) on Draper Rd!

Created by IGC Fellows, this immersive art-science exhibit showcases real action on global change 🌱🎨

🔗 blacksburgsteppinout.com

#GCCatVT #SteppinOut2025

Quantifying Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Air from a Dairy Farm and Swine Farm Farms are a suspected source of dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to the atmosphere, but their contribution remains poorly quantified. This study investigated the concentrations, emi...

Quantifying Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Air from a Dairy Farm and Swine Farm, led by PhD student David Kormos, now published! We found ARGs in a range of particle sizes, indicating potential for inhalation exposure and long-range transport.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Experts explain what’s behind measles surge and how to stop it The U.S. is facing its largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years, with at least 1,277 confirmed cases across 36 states and Washington, D.C. Two Virginia Tech experts say the reason why is clear a...

The U.S. is facing its largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years. Two Virginia Tech researchers explain why it’s spreading so quickly and how to stop it.

Read ➡️ news.vt.edu/articles/2025/07/measles-cases-record-experts.html

Meet Dr. Linsey Marr, COMPASS Co-Principal Investigator, Persist thrust co-lead, and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at @virginiatech.bsky.social @vtengineering.bsky.social

@bluethread.bsky.social
1/15
Larval competition... profoundly alters adult body size, survival, reproductive output, host-seeking behavior, olfactory neurophysiology, and vector competence."
In our new study, we trace how early-life environment reshapes adult disease risk in Aedes aegypti. #Preprint

Clone-Creating Tick Invades Another East Coast State: Public Health Officials Sound Alarm Connecticut researchers have confirmed the presence of a fast-spreading invasive tick that could pose serious health risks to people and pets across the state.The longhorned tick, originally from east...

CeZAP affiliate Dr. Kevin Lahmers addresses the rapid spread of the longhorned tick in the U.S.

🕷️ First detected in 2017, it's now in 21+ states—including recent reports in Connecticut—and spreading fast across the East.

“The tick will be a nuisance, and it is spreading,” says Dr. Lahmers.

Discussion panel of four professors at the front of a classroom

Marc Edwards and I @macfound.org
joined two other @vtengineering.bsky.social faculty members to discuss the importance of sharing our research with the public through media interviews, during a
@virginiatech.bsky.social event for alumni.

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Isolated from Dairy Farm Worker, Michigan, USA Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Isolated from Dairy Farm Worker, Michigan

Important result from CDC research team: H5N1 flu virus from a dairy farm worker transmitted by direct contact in ferrets with 100% efficiency (6/6 animals infected) and by droplets/aerosols in ferrets, physically separated, with 50% efficiency (3/6 animals infected).

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...

Research that Matters Virginia Tech research improves life for all—advancing health, security, and technology through discoveries that shape our everyday experiences.

#VirginiaTech research drives innovation, strengthens the workforce, and improves lives. Investing in it means investing in a better future for our communities and country.

Learn more about the impact of our research. ⬇️

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved promotions, tenure, and continued appointments at its June 3 meeting. Congratulations to the following CeZAP affiliates🎉
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Lauren Childs appointed to Archana S. Sathaye Junior Faculty Fellowship in Mathematics Childs is a mathematical biologist who studies infectious diseases from perspectives originating in epidemiology, immunology, ecology, and human behavior.

🎉 Celebrating CeZAP-affiliated faculty Lauren Childs!
Named the new Archana S. Sathaye Junior Faculty Fellow in Mathematics, Dr. Childs is a mathematical biologist using models and equations to fight diseases like malaria and COVID-19. 📈🦠