Andrea Pires dos Santos, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVP (Clinical)
Contact Info
Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Director of the Cytology Resource Center
Associate Member for the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research
Section Head, Clinical Pathology
Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
625 Harrison Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
765-494-4923
santos1@purdue.edu
About
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.
Education
2017 - Residency in Veterinary Clinical Pathology | Purdue University
2008 - PhD | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2004 - MSc | Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
2001 - DVM | Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
Experience
2023 | Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
2017 | Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
2014–2017 | Residency, Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
2008–2009 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
2007–2008 | Visiting Scholar, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
2006–2007 | Assistant Lecturer, Specialization in Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2002–2006 | Teaching assistant, Clinical Pathology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1998–2002 | Teaching assistant, Clinical Pathology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
Certifications
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Clinical)
Areas of Interest
- Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research, Small Non-coding RNAs, One Health, Global Engagement
