The University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute has expanded its leadership team with two new members to help enhance the institute’s research experience in aquatic pathobiology and clinical research.
“We are very lucky that the Emerging Pathogens Institute is here,” said EPI Interim Director Marco Salemi, M.D. “We have all the molecular techniques that we use for research purposes, and these techniques can also be utilized in a clinical setting. Along with the technical expertise, we also have a capable facility that allows us to expand our studies from land animals and humans to understand aquatic pathogens.”
Kuttichantran Subramaniam named EPI Director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Lab and EPI Director of the High-Throughput Sequencing Core
Kuttichantran Subramaniam, Ph.D., serves in a dual leadership position as the director of the Aquatic Pathobiology Lab and the director of the high-throughput sequencing core. In these roles, he will evaluate and facilitate the provision of space, resources, equipment and services available to EPI members for conducting aquatic pathogen research in the APL facility. Additionally, he will manage the administration and operations of the NextGen Sequencing equipment and services for EPI members.
Subramaniam is a research associate professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. He specializes in molecular virology, with an emphasis on infectious diseases that affect wildlife populations and pose challenges to the growth and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture. He has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been the PI/Co-PI on more than 20 intramural and extramural funded projects.
Subramaniam leads the Wildlife and Aquatic Veterinary Disease Laboratory housed in the APL. He uses metagenomics to identify and characterize viral pathogens affecting wildlife and hindering fisheries and aquaculture growth. In addition, he is involved in developing innovative diagnostic tools and techniques to detect and monitor the prevalence of these pathogens effectively. Subramaniam’s work also investigates how infections lead to disease in aquatic animals, including understanding the tissue tropism of pathogens, the host immune responses to viral infections and the influence of environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) on disease outcomes. By integrating these approaches, his research contributes to efforts that safeguard biodiversity and support the economic viability of fisheries and aquaculture.
Michael Lauzardo appointed EPI Associate Director of Clinical Research
Michael Lauzardo, M.D., is the associate director of clinical research after previously serving as the institute’s deputy director. In this role, Lauzardo will provide direction and support in implementing the vision and strategic plans to establish EPI’s clinical research programs. In addition, he will actively engage in grant writing and research development strategies to obtain new clinical research funding and explore opportunities with other UF campus entities to develop regional core clinical research programs.
Lauzardo is an experienced public health practitioner trained in pulmonary medicine and epidemiology. He has worked directly with state and local health departments throughout Florida and the United States for twenty-five years. His career has been focused on eliminating tuberculosis. For the last seventeen years, he has been the director of one of four U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuberculosis Centers of Excellence. Lauzardo has also been very active internationally, working in tuberculosis low- and middle-income countries.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the Director of the UF Health Screen, Test & Protect COVID-19 Program, UF’s public health response to reduce the risk of COVID-19 on its campuses. He has been honored for his contributions to COVID control, with national recognition by the CDC, the Gold Humanism Honor Society and numerous local awards, including the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Community Champions Award. When he is not working at his “day job,” he is helping manage the Keira Grace Foundation for Children’s Cancer, a foundation he and his wife created in 2005 to provide life-saving care to children with cancer in Latin America.