Combined Clinical Microbiology

The Department’s research and training programs are focused in the immunology, epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level of bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections of animals and humans.  Trainees develop a strong background through coursework in biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, disease pathogenesis, immunology, molecular genetics, and statistics. Dissertation research is carried out under the direction of a highly collaborative research faculty internationally recognized for infectious disease research and who are experienced in mentoring trainees within state-of-the-art laboratories funded by NIH, USDA, Grayson Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, and additional international, federal, state, regional, private institutions, individuals, and organizations. This academic research environment is enriched by integration with the Washington State University Animal Health Research Center, the USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit, and the WSU Center for Integrated Biotechnology.

The residency training occurs within the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), which has 3 primary facilities, a primary full service laboratory in Pullman, an Aquatic Health laboratory in Pullman and an Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory branch in Puyallup. WADDL is one of 22 founding members of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and one of the 9 veterinary diagnostic laboratories that serve as a reference lab in the Laboratory Response Network for Bioterrorism. Specialized sections in aquaculture, bacteriology, molecular diagnostics, parasitology, serology, and virology ensures that residents develop a strong background in all aspects of clinical microbiology, including detection and diagnosis of emerging and zoonotic pathogens.