Specialist in Infectious Disease Pathogenesis to Give Purdue Veterinary Conference Diversity Keynote with Pandemic as Backdrop

This year’s Diversity Keynote speaker for the Purdue Veterinary Conference is Dr. Ian Moore, a veterinarian who heads the Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  A researcher whose collaborative studies include influenza viruses, tuberculosis, coronaviruses (MERS, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2), human norovirus, and malaria, Dr. Moore will address diversity issues utilizing insights gained from his role as a scholar involved at the federal level in vaccine development.

Dr. Moore has stated that, “Animal and human health care no longer exist merely as disjointed issues, but are now tethered tightly together by the fabric of One Health with all of the world watching.”  As part of his keynote lecture, Dr. Moore will discuss this reality as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic exposing what he refers to as “gaping holes in the public health system.“ He explains that those gaping holes relate to the changing roles of veterinarians.  He notes that veterinarians traditionally serviced rural areas and provided general information about animal health and zoonotic diseases.  In contrast, he says veterinarians today have a much broader role in animal and human health, as well as health messaging and communications related to disease surveillance and the emergence of veterinary diseases, particularly those of importance to human health.  His lecture will include insights about the role of veterinary medicine in identifying emerging viruses, developing vaccines and predicting the next pandemic.

Dr. Moore is a native of Brewton, Ala. who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in poultry science and his DVM degree in 2002 and 2006, respectively, at Tuskegee University.  He then began a dual veterinary anatomic pathology residency and PhD program at Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  After completing his three-year residency program and PhD graduate coursework, Dr. Moore transitioned to the NIH where, under the mentorship of Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a world-renowned influenza researcher, he completed his dissertation focused on the pathogenesis and immunology of influenza viruses in animal models. 

After earning his PhD, Dr. Moore was recruited to stay on at NIH and asked to head the Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section (IDPS) of the NIAID. The IDPS is a molecular pathology research core laboratory that currently supports more than 70 NIH infectious disease investigators, spanning a wide array of infectious disease research projects.  Dr. Moore has co-authored over 50 publications in journals including Nature, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, and the New England Journal of Medicine.  Two of Dr. Moore’s most notable research accomplishments were his identification of the target cell for human norovirus infection and, more recently, his role in performing the pre-clinical safety and efficacy studies for the NIH/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine candidate (mRNA-1273) ahead of human clinical trials and FDA Emergency Use Authorization.

The 2021 Purdue Veterinary Conference will  be held virtually September 7-10, offering four days of high-quality tracks on small animal, equine, food animal, practice management, exotics, and topics of interest for veterinary nurses. Attendees can earn up to 24 hours of continuing education, and will have access to a virtual exhibit hall.

Online registration closes on Tuesday, September 7.  If you miss the online registration deadline, you still will be able to email confreg@purdue.edu to register.

Click here for more information on the conference, including the conference schedule. Click here to register today.

Writer(s): Ben Shepard | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

PVM Clinical Pathologist Elected to Viticus Group (WVC) Board of Directors

Dr. Craig Thompson, clinical associate professor of clinical pathology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, now is a member of the Board of Directors of Viticus Group – formerly WVC. Dr. Thompson was elected to the board when votes were cast in the board election held in conjunction with the 2026 WVC Annual Conference (formally known as the Western Veterinary Conference) earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are pleased to share a colleague’s words of appreciation for Dr. Erin Paul-Stewart, who is a medical oncology resident in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Veterinary Boilermakers on the Road: Purdue Veterinary Alumni Reconnect and Celebrate at National Conferences

The veterinary profession is built on lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to animal and human health. This winter, those values were on full display as Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine alumni, faculty, students and friends gathered at two of the profession’s premier events—the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida, and the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The GOAT Named Oreo Captures Attention for PVM at Annual Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry

Purdue Veterinary Medicine joined in the festivities as the annual Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry earlier this month celebrated alumni and friends who have shaped Purdue Agriculture's legacy and will help define its future. In particular, this year’s event on February 7 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds provided an opportunity to highlight the longstanding partnership between the College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we’re giving a big high-five to Micah Black, who is a veterinary nursing assistant in Large Animal Surgery.

Research accomplishments of CPB’s Uma Aryal featured in ASBMB Today Article

A recently published article in ASBMB Today, the member magazine of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, details groundbreaking research led by Uma K. Aryal, research associate professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

PVM Associate Dean S. Kathleen Salisbury Receives IVMA President’s Award

Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury, Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate dean for academic affairs, was honored recently by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association as the recipient of the association’s annual President’s Award.

Three PVM Alumni Receive IVMA Awards for Achievements and Volunteering

The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) honored three Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni with awards for significant achievements and volunteering during the association’s recent Crossroads Veterinary Conference. The awards were presented January 30 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

In Memory – Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, Retired Purdue Avian Diagnostician

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community mourns the passing of a dedicated poultry veterinarian and esteemed avian diagnostician, Dr. Thomas A. Bryan.