CPB Research and Faculty
Through cross-disciplinary research, our faculty in Comparative Pathobiology uncover the mechanisms of disease to advance animal, human, and environmental health. Their expertise in fields such as infectious diseases, cancer biology, and toxicology drives discoveries that shape scientific understanding, guide public health, and prepare future biomedical leaders.
Grant N. Burcham, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Assistant Director Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory | Associate Clinical Professor in Comparative Pathobiology | Veterinary Diagnostician
Dr. Burcham was raised in southern Indiana, in the town of Bloomfield, in Greene County. He attended Hanover College for his Bachelors degree (earned in 2003) and later Purdue University for veterinary school. He graduated from vet school in 2007 and stayed on at Purdue for the next 7 years, completing a residency in anatomic pathology in 2010 and a PhD in comparative pathobiology in 2014. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and is now practicing diagnostic pathology at the southern Indiana branch of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, known as the Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The lab is located on the campus of the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC), between the towns of French Lick and Jasper. His professional interests include diseases of ruminants and poultry, diseases associated with forages and pasture, diseases of native Hoosier wildlife, and infectious diseases in general.
Abigail Cox, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Assistant Department Head, Comparative Pathobiology | William Iverson Associate Professor of Comparative Pathology | Director, Histology Research Laboratory | Section Head, Pathology | Associate Professor, Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
Abigail Cox is the William Iverson Associate Professor of Comparative Pathology in Purdue University's Department of Comparative Pathobiology. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, followed by her DVM, MS, and PhD from Purdue University, and completed an Anatomic Pathology residency and board certification through the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2011. Dr. Cox now serves as Interim Assistant Department Head and Director of the CTSI core Histology Research Laboratory, and she holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.
Her research focuses on vocal fold pathobiology, including systemic dehydration, estrogen regulation, and biomechanical responses. Current projects are supported by two consecutive NIH R01 awards. Her work has yielded more than 70 peer-reviewed publications through extensive interdisciplinary collaborations spanning speech-language-hearing sciences, engineering, proteomics, and imaging.
At Purdue, Dr. Cox contributes to graduate, veterinary, and residency education and actively mentors across disciplines, having guided 15 anatomic pathology residents, 12 graduate students, and more than 20 veterinary students. Her dedication to mentorship was recognized with the 2024 Boehringer Ingelheim Best Mentor Award. She also holds leadership roles in the American College of Veterinary Pathology, the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and the American Society of Investigative Pathology.
Nelly O Elshafie
Clinical Assistant Professor, Section Head, Genomic Diagnostics
Dr. Nelly O. Elshafie is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Section Head of Genomic Diagnostics at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), Purdue University. She leads the Genomic Diagnostics section, where she develops and implements next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostic assays for infectious diseases affecting companion animals, livestock, wildlife, and other veterinary species.
Her research interests include metagenomic sequencing, targeted next-generation sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, antimicrobial resistance, and the development and validation of molecular diagnostic assays. She has led and contributed to numerous projects involving emerging infectious diseases, vector-borne pathogens, respiratory pathogens, foodborne pathogens, and zoonotic disease surveillance. Her work also focuses on applying long-read sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide actionable information for veterinarians, producers, and public health professionals.
As Section Head of Genomic Diagnostics, Dr. Elshafie oversees the implementation of innovative genomic technologies in a clinical diagnostic setting, supports collaborative research across Purdue University and external institutions, and mentors students and trainees in molecular diagnostics and genomics. She is actively involved in multidisciplinary collaborations that bridge clinical diagnostics, infectious disease research, and precision veterinary medicine.
Dr. Elshafie's long-term goal is to advance genomic diagnostics by translating cutting-edge sequencing technologies into practical, high-impact tools that improve animal health, strengthen disease surveillance, and support One Health initiatives worldwide.
Rahul Nelli, BVSc & AH, MVM, PhD
Associate Professor, Molecular Diagnostics Section Head
Dr. Nelli’s work focuses on emerging infectious diseases, molecular diagnostics, and One Health solutions. He has pioneered advanced 3D organoid models across multiple animal species, providing powerful alternatives to traditional animal studies and advancing understanding of pathogen-host interactions, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). Critical areas of investigation include the underlying risk factors for viral transmission at the animal-human interface, the evaluation of host susceptibility to these pathogens, and the analysis of factors contributing to pathogenesis.
Dr. Nelli has secured more than $4 million in competitive research funding, developed several diagnostic assays, and led the implementation of high-throughput, automated testing platforms that strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response capabilities. His research has generated more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Through collaborations with government agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions around the world, Dr. Nelli translates scientific discoveries into practical solutions that protect animal health, strengthen food systems, and improve global public health resilience.
Viju Vijayan Pillai, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVP
Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology
Dr. Viju Pillai is an Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Purdue University. Dr. Pillai’s professional training started with a veterinary medicine degree and was followed by a PhD in reproductive biology from Cornell University. Subsequently, he completed his Anatomic Pathology residency at Purdue University and is board-certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Dr. Pillai’s research program is broadly focused on various aspects of reproductive and stem cell biology, with a particular emphasis on early embryonic and placental development, stem cells, 3D-organoid models, and the advancement and application of stem cell-based technologies to enhance human and animal health. Additionally, Dr. Pillai offers comparative pathology services to researchers across Purdue University, encompassing histopathology evaluations, consultation on model development, and provision of support for image and immunohistochemistry analysis.
Andrea Pires dos Santos, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVP (Clinical)
Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pathology | Director of the Cytology Resource Center | Associate Member for the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research | Section Head, Clinical Pathology
Dr. Andrea Pires dos Santos, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVP (Clinical), is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Clinical Pathology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from Brazil, she earned her veterinary degree and completed her MSc and PhD training in clinical pathology before pursuing postdoctoral research and a clinical pathology residency at Purdue University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
Dr. Santos integrates diagnostic service, teaching, and research, with expertise in veterinary hematology, cytology, and laboratory medicine. Her research focuses on molecular diagnostics, biomarker discovery, and comparative oncology, particularly the application of microRNAs and other molecular approaches to improve the diagnosis and understanding of cancer and infectious diseases. Her work also extends to wildlife health, conservation medicine, and One Health research.
She has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed publications, many resulting from longstanding international collaborations. Her research brings together investigators from veterinary medicine, human health, and biomedical sciences, with an emphasis on translating scientific discoveries into clinically meaningful applications.
At Purdue, Dr. Santos serves as Section Head of Clinical Pathology and Director of the National Cytology Resource Center, supporting veterinary diagnostic education and the advancement of cytology resources. She is actively involved in teaching veterinary students and mentoring clinical pathology residents, graduate students, and visiting international scholars.
Dr. Santos is particularly committed to international collaboration and experiential education. She leads a veterinary study abroad program in Brazil that integrates wildlife conservation, veterinary medicine, and public health, providing students with opportunities to learn alongside local researchers, veterinarians, and conservation professionals. Through her research, teaching, and professional service, she seeks to advance veterinary medicine while fostering meaningful and reciprocal partnerships across institutions and countries.
