Explore UCVM Research Labs
Welcome to our directory of research labs at UCVM! Use the search option to quickly find information about each lab, including faculty names, lab types, research description, and locations.
If your lab is not listed, we encourage you to reach out to Joy Punsalan at the Research Office to have it included.
| Lab Information | Lab Type | Research Descrption |
|---|---|---|
Faculty Member: Anderson, Jason Lab Name: Anderson Lab Location: HRIC 3B42 | Wet lab | We are a general-purpose vertebrate paleontology laboratory specializing in fossil preparation, paleohistology (including non-decalcified modern bone), and MicroCT analysis of internal morphology. Our research explores various topics, including the origins of higher taxonomic groups, internal osteology, and the reconstruction of soft tissues in fossils. In recent years, a major focus has been documenting the diversity of vertebrates in the Romer’s Gap fauna at Blue Beach (Hortons Bluff Formation) near Hantsport, Nova Scotia. |
Faculty Member: Biernaskie, Jeff Lab Name: Biernaskie lab. Location: Heritage Medical Researc Building 403B | Wet lab | Our research program focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive fibrotic versus regenerative healing, with the goal of developing treatments to reduce scarring and improve organ function after injury or disease. We also study how skin and brain stem/progenitor cells are regulated during homeostasis and how factors such as injury, aging, and the immune system influence their function. Our team has expertise in large and small animal models of disease, single-cell genomics, confocal imaging, cell and tissue culture, and molecular biology. |
Faculty Member: Canton, Johnathan Lab Name: Immunobiology or Canton Lab Location: HRIC GA25/GA25B/GA27 | Wet lab | The Immunobiology (Canton) Lab studies the earliest events in immune response initiation. By understanding these fundamental processes, we aim to develop novel immunotherapies and vaccines. |
Faculty Member: Careem, Faizal Lab Name: Careem Lab Location: HRIC 2C51-53 | Wet lab | The Careem Lab specializes in avian viral immunology, with a particular focus on avian influenza virus, avian coronavirus, and avian herpesvirus infections. Their research employs a combination of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo techniques. |
Faculty Member: Ceballos Betancourt, Maria Lab Name: Animal Welfare and Behaviour Research Lab (AWELBE) Location: CWPH 2D41 – Ceballos Betancourt Dry lab | Dry lab | The Animal Welfare and Behaviour Research Lab (AWELBE) is dedicated to advancing the well-being of production animals through an integrated research approach. Combining real-world fieldwork with behavioral and physiological assessments, our team works to generate new knowledge that addresses key welfare challenges. We focus on testing innovative ideas, developing practical tools, and creating strategies to evaluate and enhance animal welfare. |
Faculty Member: Checkley, Sylvia Location: HSC B037 | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Cheng, Ning Lab Name: Cheng Lab Location: HRIC 1B41 | Wet lab | The Cheng Lab explores neurodevelopment and related conditions using rodent models. Through an integrative research approach, we employ a range of techniques, including electrophysiology, behavioral analysis, genetics, pharmacology, biochemistry, and histology. Our goal is to generate new insights into neurodevelopmental conditions and help translate this knowledge into advancements that improve lives. |
Faculty Member: Chu, Li-Fang (Jack) Lab Name: Chu Lab Location: HMRB 431/431A/431B/431C/431D/431E | Wet lab | The Chu Lab studies developmental clocks and species-specific cellular reprogramming using pluripotent stem cells. Our research aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms guiding development and cell fate, providing insights that can advance regenerative medicine and biotechnology. |
Faculty Member: Cobo, Eduardo Lab Name: Cobo Lab Location: HSC1871 | Wet lab | The Cobo Lab explores the biological functions of small cationic host defense peptides, including cathelicidins and defensins, which are secreted by white blood cells and epithelial cells in mammals. Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind their essential role in tissue homeostasis, particularly in regulating harmful inflammation and controlling microbial pathogens. By studying synthetic derivatives and ways to stimulate endogenous production, we aim to develop cathelicidins and defensins as natural, effective, and cost-efficient alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This innovation has the potential to reduce reliance on antibiotics, improve animal welfare, minimize economic losses in animal production, and support a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry. |
Faculty Member: Debuck, Jeroen Lab Name: De Buck Lab for Bovine Bacterial Diseases Location: Health Science Centre (2535 & 2553) | Wet Lab | The De Buck Lab focuses on improving the diagnosis and prevention of bovine bacterial diseases, including Johne’s disease, digital dermatitis, and staphylococcal infections in bovine mastitis. Our research integrates expertise in bacterial pathogenesis, genome and microbiome analysis, multi-omics, veterinary immunology, molecular biology, and phage engineering to develop innovative diagnostic tools and preventative strategies. |
Faculty Member: Deardon, Rob Lab Name: Deardon infectious Disease Modelling Lab | Dry Lab | The Deardon Lab develops epidemic models and statistical methods to analyze complex, noisy data sources. Our research focuses on models that account for behavioral changes and heterogeneous populations, such as spatial and network-based models. These models help us make forecasts and design epidemic mitigation strategies to control outbreaks more effectively. |
Faculty Member: Dobrinski, Ina Lab Name: Dobrinski Lab Location: HMRB 403A/403C/405/407 | Wet lab | The Dobrinski Lab studies mammalian germ line stem cell biology and the regulation of its niche. As the foundation of male fertility, spermatogonial stem cells are the only adult cells capable of passing genetic material to future generations, making them key targets for regenerative medicine and genetic research. Our work focuses on modeling and studying spermatogenesis in vitro, integrating research on 3D testicular organoids, extracellular vesicles, and induced pluripotent stem cells with advanced technologies such as stirred suspension bioreactors, microfluidic devices, CRISPR gene editing, multi-omics, and germ cell transplantation/xenografts. |
Faculty Member: Gilch, Sabine Lab Name: The Gilch Lab Location: HRIC | Wet lab | The Gilch lab is interested in studying the impact of prion infection on neuronal cholesterol metabolism and endocytic vesicle trafficking, defining new treatment options for prion and prion-like diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and investigating chronic wasting disease (CWD) prion strains, transmission determinants and diagnosis. |
Faculty Member: Gilleard, John Lab Name: Gilleard Lab | The Gilleard Lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms of drug (anthelmintic) resistance in parasitic nematodes. We investigate how the underlying causal mutations arise and spread within populations, with the goal of improving treatment strategies and parasite control. | |
Faculty Member: Goldsmith, Dayna Lab Name: Alberta Node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) Spy Hill - DSU | Wet lab | As the Alberta Node of the CWHC, we conduct passive diagnostic health surveillance on wildlife through necropsies and ancillary testing at the Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU). Our work is carried out in collaboration with diagnostic partners across the province, including Parks Canada, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers, and the Kutz Research Lab at UCVM. |
Faculty Member: Hecker, Kent Lab Name: The Health Education Neuroassessment Laboratory (THENaL) Location: CWPH 1E41/1E41A/1E41B/1E41C | Dry lab | The Health Education Neuroassessment Laboratory (THENaL) is interested in how learning, performance, and decision-making relate to networks in the brain and how these networks change as we learn and grow. Our research applies modern neuroimaging practices and psychometric techniques to study patterns of brain activity during specific tasks and scenarios. Our goal is to construct neuro-psychometric models that combine performance and brain activity data to assist in the education and assessment of health professionals. |
Faculty Member: Hernandez-Medrano, Juan Lab Name: Reproduction and Early Life (RaEL) Lab Location: HRIC GA23A | Wet lab | The Reproduction and Early Life (RaEL) Lab explores how different maternal challenges, such as the use of reproductive management technologies, poor nutrition, and exposure to extreme temperatures, affect the growth and development of unborn offspring. We aim to understand how these stressors during pregnancy and even before conception influence the long-term health, productivity, and reproductive abilities of the offspring. By studying these impacts, we also seek to uncover how early-life stresses shape reproductive performance and lifespan. |
Faculty Member: Kutz, Susan Lab Name: Kutz Research Group | The Kutz Research Group is an interdisciplinary team focused on understanding the health of free-living wildlife and applying that knowledge to support sustainable subsistence use and the conservation of healthy ecosystems. Our research primarily examines how environmental changes, such as climate change and habitat disturbances, impact animal health. We work closely with subsistence hunters and northern communities to identify emerging concerns and develop practical disease surveillance methods. Using field, laboratory, and captive animal studies—alongside local knowledge—we document parasite biodiversity, investigate disease dynamics, and create models to predict transmission patterns in a changing environment. | |
Faculty Member: Leguillette, Renaud Lab Name: Equine Respiratory and Sports Medicine Laboratory Location: VSRS 116B | Wet lab | The Equine Respiratory and Sports Medicine Laboratory focuses on understanding respiratory health and performance in horses. Collaboration is at the core of our work, extending from individual horse owners and trainers to veterinary professionals and researchers. Our research integrates field studies, clinical assessments, and laboratory investigations to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of respiratory and sports-related conditions in horses. We are committed to knowledge translation, ensuring our findings benefit both the equine industry and the broader scientific community. |
Faculty Member: Liljebjelke, Karen HSC B037 | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Matyas, John Location: HRIC 3B36C/3B36D/3B40/3B40A/3B40B/3B42 | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Morrison, Beverly Lab Name: Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU) Bacteriology Lab Location: Spy Hill - DSU | Wet lab | The DSU Bacteriology Lab provides diagnostic testing for animal specimens submitted by veterinarians and researchers. Our services include bacterial culture and susceptibility testing, bacterial identification using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, Clostridium fluorescent antibody testing, and fungal culture. Data from submitted cases contribute to disease surveillance, veterinary student education, and collaborative research projects with internal and external partners. |
Faculty Member: Niu, Dongyan Lab Name: Niu Lab Location: HSC B032/B042/B045/B046 | Wet lab (B042 is Dry lab) | The Niu Lab is dedicated to advancing food safety from farm to fork. Our research focuses on precisely understanding the human health risks posed by foodborne pathogens of animal origin (Theme 1) and developing innovative strategies to minimize food safety risks (Theme 2). |
Faculty Member: Nobrega, Diego Lab Name: Nobrega’s One Health and Epidemiology lab (NOHEL) HSC B037 | The Nobrega’s One Health and Epidemiology Lab advances research at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. With a strong emphasis on infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, we develop and integrate innovative approaches to monitor pathogens in animals and humans while leveraging advanced methodologies to analyze complex datasets. | |
Faculty Member: Orsel, Karin Lab Name: Orsel Research Group Location: HSC second floor | wetlab and field studies | The Orsel Research Group bridges epidemiology, animal welfare, and One Health approaches to improve the health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. By addressing disease transmission and prevention, our research supports sustainable and ethical farming practices, healthier ecosystems, and public health. |
Faculty Member: Pajor, Ed Location: CWPH 1E21, VSRS 160B | Dry lab (160B is Wet lab) | |
Faculty Member: Pang, Daniel Lab Name: Pang Lab Location: HSC 1702/1704 | Wet lab | The Pang Lab focuses on multispecies pain assessment and welfare, integrating both clinical and lab-based research. Our lab-based work centers on developing and applying novel tools to assess pain-related behaviors in rodents, including the Rat Grimace Scale and ultrasonic vocalizations. These tools enhance our understanding of pain behavior in laboratory species, with clear welfare implications. Guided by the 3Rs, our clinical research explores optimal recovery from surgical procedures while ensuring appropriate analgesia through composite pain scales. We also investigate the effects of prolonged anesthesia recovery and the management of contributing variables in veterinary medicine. |
Faculty Member: Peters, Nathan Lab Name: Peters Lab | The Peters Lab investigates the immunobiology of chronic infectious diseases, with a focus on vector-transmitted pathogens. Using advanced multicolor flow cytometry and two-photon microscopy, we study host-pathogen interactions in the skin and internal organs. Our research explores the earliest immune responses, inflammatory cell interactions with vector-inoculated pathogens, and the regulation of immunity to reinfection, including the role of T cell memory in chronic infections. | |
Faculty Member: Poissant, Jocelyn Lab Name: Poissant Lab Location: HRIC 1B43 | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Pruvot, Mathieu Lab Name: Pruvot Lab Location: HRIC 1B43/1B43A | Wet lab | The research in the Wildlife Health and Disease Ecology Lab explores the impact of human activities—from small-scale management decisions to large-scale environmental changes—on disease transmission and health at the interface of wildlife, livestock, and humans. Key areas of focus include wildlife-livestock disease transmission, the effects of land-use change and wildlife trade on zoonotic disease spread, global wildlife disease surveillance, and the drivers of wildlife health. Our overarching goal is to understand the link between health and conservation in complex socio-ecological systems. |
Faculty Member: Rosa, Brielle HRIC GA23/GA23A | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Rothenburger, Jamie Lab Name: Rothenburger Lab | The Rothenburger Lab studies infectious diseases at the intersection of the environment, people, wildlife, and domestic animals through the One Health concept, with a focus on understanding animal hosts of zoonotic pathogens. We also engage in wildlife disease discovery and share our findings with the broader scientific community. | |
Faculty Member: Roy, Marie-France Location: VSRS 116B/125A | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Schaetzl, Hermann Lab Name: Prion Biology & Immunology Research Group - Schaetzl Lab Location: HRIC | Wet lab | The Schaetzl Lab has studied the cellular and molecular biology of prion diseases for 30 years. Our current focus is on developing vaccines against chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal and expanding prion disease affecting deer and elk in Alberta and Canada. We also investigate the zoonotic potential of CWD. |
Faculty Member: Soghigian, John Lab Name: Soghigian Lab | The Soghigian Lab explores the causes and consequences of parasite and vector diversity. Our research seeks to answer questions such as: Why are some parasites and biting insects problematic while their close relatives are harmless or even beneficial? What can evolutionary history tell us about key traits like vector competency in mosquitoes? | |
Faculty Member: Sparks, Holly Location: HRIC 3B36/3B36B/3B36C/3B36D/3B38/3B38A | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Thundathil, Jacob Lab Name: Gamete Biology and Cryobiology Labs Location: CSB 175 D (Cryobiology Lab) | Wet lab | The Gamete Biology and Cryobiology Labs, led by Dr. Thundathil, focus on understanding the regulation of male fertility. By studying the molecular mechanisms of testis and sperm function, we aim to develop evidence-based strategies to improve livestock fertility with broader implications for other species. Our research includes bull breeding soundness evaluation, frozen semen assessment, assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro embryo production for research and commercial use, and the preservation of endangered wildlife genetics. |
Faculty Member: Trang, Tuan Lab Name: Pain and Poppies Laboratory Location: HSC 2043A/2043B/2043C/2043Z/2044/2045/2045A | Wet lab | The Pain and Poppies Laboratory, led by Dr. Trang, addresses chronic pain by investigating interactions between the immune and nervous systems, the effects of drugs on the brain, and ways to make opioids safer. Our goal is to develop better pain treatments for both humans and animals. |
Faculty Member: Ungrin, Mark Lab Name: Ungrin Lab Location: HMRB 431/431A/431B/431C/431D/431E | Wet lab | The Ungrin Research Group studies how cells assemble into tissues and organs, exploring natural processes and their applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. |
Faculty Member: van der Meer, Frank Lab Name: The Van der Meer Lab Location: HRIC | Wet lab | The van der Meer Lab focuses on the molecular evolution of viruses, viral persistence, and transmission in livestock and wildlife. Our research aims to contribute to improved disease control and management strategies in veterinary medicine and on farms. |
Faculty Member: Warren, Amy Location: HRIC GA32/GA34 | Wet lab | |
Faculty Member: Wasmuth, James Lab Name: Wasmuth Lab Location: CWPH 1E37 | Dry Lab | The Wasmuth Lab studies helminths—parasitic worms—to understand how they survive inside their hosts, including livestock, companion animals, and humans. Using genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data, we identify key biochemical pathways essential for helminths. Through computational methods, we aim to discover urgently needed new drugs to treat helminth infections. |
Faculty Member: Whelan, Patrick Lab Name: The Whelan Lab Location: HSC 2068 | Wet lab | The Whelan Lab investigates the mechanisms underlying motor control. Using a cells-to-systems approach, we study descending modulation of motor behavior in freely moving mice, connectivity between brain regions involved in motor control, spinal network modulation, and the role of descending pathways in movement disorders and spinal cord injury recovery. |
| Faculty Member: Whitehead, Ashley | The lab performs clinical research that focuses on identifying and understanding infectious agents in Alberta’s horse population. We address gaps in knowledge by gathering Alberta-specific data to help veterinary clinics improve the diagnosis and treatment of equine diseases. | |
Faculty Member: Whiteside, Doug Lab Name: Whiteside Wildlife Research Lab Location: HRIC 1B41 | Wet lab | The Whiteside Wildlife Research Lab develops collaborative conservation medicine projects to bridge knowledge gaps between free-ranging wildlife and animals under human care. Our research focuses on clinical applications, conservation medicine, animal welfare, microbiomes, comparative reproduction, anesthesia and analgesia, infectious disease, and comparative pathology to support wildlife conservation and improve animal welfare. |
Faculty Member: Windeyer, Claire Location: VSRS 160B/166 | Wet lab |