EPI Research Day 2025

April 17, 2025

EPI Research Day 2025 occured on April 17, 2025, at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The event had nearly 150 posters from nine UF colleges and 33 UF departments, as well as from external affiliates. Reknowned researcher Alberto Paniz-Monolfi, M.D., Ph.D., gave an engaging keynote talk about the spread of pathogens across Latin America.

EPI member Robert Ossiboff, D.V.M., Ph.D., and his lab explore the identification of piscichuviruses in wild American alligators in Florida.

Keynote Talk

Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He specializes in medical microbiology, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases. He is a skilled pathologist with strong research and professional interests in molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases. His main research interests are focused on the eco-epidemiological and pathological aspects of arthropod-borne viruses/protozoa and trypanosomatid parasitic infections.

Key Collaborations

Overhead shot of poster session, Research Day 2025.

Post-Event Story

It takes a village: Celebrating community in infectious disease research

Paniz-Mondolfi epitomizes the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration. In 2015, he began a long-term collaboration at the EPI. Ten years later, he still dives into discoveries with members of our institute to fight infectious diseases.

News In Brief

All Posts

Poster Competition Winners

Undergraduate Research Poster Competition

First Place
- Michelle Mu, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
  - Abstract title: Comparison of molecular approaches to detect virulent bacteriophage as a proxy for v. Cholerae
Second Place
- Shota Konno, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Accurate and non-invasive biofilm monitoring in drinking water distribution systems through effluent analysis of quorum sensing-related mRNA levels
Third Place
- Priya Tomerlin, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Receptor activity post-coxsackievirus B3 infection during acute myocarditis

Pre-doctoral Research Poster Competition

First Place
- Scott Cohen, Department of Epidemiology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Resistance-driven outbreak detection and etiologic investigation for hospital-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa using machine learning on electronic health records
Second Place:
- Ian A. Pshea-Smith, Department of Geography, Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Mosquito biodiversity in a pathogen endemic setting in Haiti
Third Place
- Mark K. Britton, Department of Epidemiology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Alcohol reduction is associated with lower LBP and SCD14 at 2-year follow-up in people with HIV

Post-doctoral Research Poster Competition

First Place
- Marta Reguera-Gómez, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: IL-6 deficiency accelerates cerebral cryptococcosis and alters glial cell responses
First Place
- Sebastian Botero-Cañola, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Leveraging the niche centrality hypothesis to model the geographical patterns of abundance of the soft tick Ornithodoros turicata americanus, a vector of epidemiological concern in North America
Third Place
- Xiaolong Li, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Whole genome characterization of torque teno sus virus 1 (ttsuv1) in wild and domestic pigs: insights into genetic classification, host differentiation, and intra-host variation

Early-stage Investigator Research Poster Competition

First Place
- Jeff Gruntmeir, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Wildlife rehabilitation facilities, essential partners in one health collaborative networks: SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in native U.S. mammals and assessment of biosecurity practices
Second Place
- Marie Nancy Séraphin, Department of Medicine, Center for African Studies, Emerging Pathogens Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: When bugs spill secrets: a genomic and machine learning analysis of tuberculosis transmission in Ghana
Third Place
- Alaa R. M. Sayed, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
  - Abstract title: Receptor-mediated effects allow for better selection of β-lactam antibiotics against mycobacterium avium complex

Past Research Day

Picture of dimorphic fungi. Dimorphic fungi can exist in the form of both mold and yeast.

Event Recap

EPI Research Day 2024

Missed the last research day? Want to know what the event is like? Visit our event recap page for recordings of the keynote talks, event highlight articles and more.

EPI Research Day 2025