Fall marked an important milestone for veterinary laboratory diagnosticians in general and a Purdue Department of Comparative Pathobiology graduate student in particular. The occasion was the 2025 annual joint meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), held October 30 – November 5 in Aurora, Colorado, where Purdue Veterinary Medicine was well-represented.
In particular, Diba Yaghoubi, a master’s student in the laboratory of Dr. Viju Pillai, assistant professor of anatomic pathology, received a $1,750 AAVLD Trainee Travel Award to attend the meeting where she delivered a platform presentation entitled, “Rapid Diagnosis of Bison Mycoplasmosis.” The research project was supported by the AgSeed Competitive Research Grant awarded to Dr. Pillai last year.
“I’m honored to have received the AAVLD Travel Award to attend the annual meeting in Colorado, and grateful for the opportunity to have presented my research on the development of a rapid, on-site diagnostic test for the detection of mycoplasmosis in bison,” said Yaghoubi. She also expressed appreciation for the guidance and support of Dr. Pillai.
Dr. Pillai’s Laboratory of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology focuses on using stem cell models to gain novel insights into mammalian development and to develop applications that improve human and animal health. The laboratory’s research encompasses stem cell biology, reproductive biotechnologies, and endocrine pathology. In addition to his research program, Dr. Pillai serves as a diagnostic pathologist for the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), and is based in West Lafayette at the Reed ADDL.
In addition to Yaghoubi and Dr. Pillai, other meeting attendees from Purdue included Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh and additional representatives of the Comparative Pathobiology Department and ADDL, including Dr. Steve Hooser, professor of Toxicology and senior veterinary toxicologist; Dr. Rachel Soltys, clinical assistant professor and Bacteriology Section head at the Reed ADDL; Dr. Nelly Elshafie, ADDL research scientist; and Dr. Grant Burcham, veterinary diagnostician and head of the Heeke ADDL in Southern Indiana. PVM’s representation at the meeting reflected the college’s and Comparative Pathobiology Department’s continued leadership and ongoing contributions to advancing animal disease diagnostics, research innovation, and student mentorship, said Dr. Pillai.
