Basic Sciences
The Department of Basic Sciences was established in July, 2001. The department faculty and staff represent the basic scientific disciplines that are required for education of veterinarians. Research focus areas include infectious diseases and immunology (including diseases of important food animal species), digital biology (biological computing, bioinformatics, and systems biology), and toxicology. The widely used AgBase molecular biology database was developed and is maintained by members of the Department of Basic Sciences, and the Center for Environmental Health Sciences, which is involved in toxicology and health disparities research, is located in the Department of Basic Sciences. The department fulfills all missions of the land grant university triad, i.e., research, teaching, and service. Among the department’s service components are its fish diagnostic services. One of the faculty members in this department is recognized by the OIE (international animal disease organization) as an expert who may be consulted with regard to selected fish diseases.
The Department of Basic Sciences is involved in the management and delivery of the first year of the veterinary curriculum, and members of the department play key roles in a program designed to provide veterinary students with a high quality research experience in the summer. In addition to participation in the freshman veterinary curriculum, faculty in the department are heavily involved in providing classes and training activities for graduate and post doctoral students.
Contact Information
Stephen B. Pruett, Ph.D., Department Head
Mississippi State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Basic Sciences
P.O. Box 6100
Mississippi State, MS 39762-6100
Phone: (662) 325-1130
Fax: 662-325-8884
Email: Pruett@cvm.msstate.edu
Faculty Listing
Digital Biology (Proteomics, Genomics, Systems Biology, and Gene Ontology)
Coyne, Cody
Karsi, Attila
Lawrence, Mark
McCarthy, Fiona
Nanduri, Bindu
Wan, Henry
Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Coyne, Cody
Hanson, Larry
Karsi, Attila
Keun Seok Seo
Lawrence, Mark
McCarthy, Fiona
Panuska, Carla
Petrie-Hanson, Lora
Pharr, Todd
Pinchuk, Lesya
Pote, Linda
Pruett, Stephen
Stokes, Andrea Varela
Wang, Chinling
Neuroscience
Carr, Russell
Chambers, Jan
Eells, Jeffrey
Toxicology and Pharmacology
Carr, Russell
Chambers, Jan
Coyne, Cody
Crow, Allen
Eells, Jeffrey
Howell, George
Pruett, Stephen
Ross, Matthew
| Adjunct Professors: | Olsen, Eric Vincent | Emeritus Professors: |
| Ambrust, Kevin L. | Paddock, Christopher | Keirs, Robert |
| Bohach, Greg | Peebles, David | |
| Bridges, Susan | Peterson, Brian C. | Jones, Edwin W. |
| Champlin, Frank | Smith, James Leif | |
| Chatokondi, Nagaraj | Sullivan, Donna | Ainsworth, Gerald |
| Coats, Karen | Swiatlo, Edwin | |
| Donaldson, Janet | Waldbeiser, Geoff | |
| Dorr, Brian | Willard, Scott | |
| Fowler, David | ||
| King, Tommy |
News and Accolades
Updated March 2010
CVM
graduate students earn certificate in Computational Biology from
the Bagley Engineering College. The Computational Biology
Certificate combines course work in computer science and biology
to offer students a formal program of study to address how biological
systems work by analyzing the data made available with high
throughput biology. Students will gain fundamental skills in computing
integrated with biology (i.e., application techniques to understand the
structures, functions, dynamics, and evolution of living organisms) and
will become competitive for high-end employment in emerging technical
fields. The well-defined program will provide students with recognition
of their training in the area and will allow students from diverse
disciplines to learn together. The program will be administered by the
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the Center for Computer
Security Research, and the Office of the Dean of Engineering. The
certificate is awarded by the Bagley College of Engineering and the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In the photo (left to right)
Dilip Gautam - Computer Science,
Vabhiv Joshi - Basic Sciences,
Roy Jacob - Poultry Science,
David Peebles - Professor Poultry Science,
Sarah A. Rajala - Dean of the Bagley College of Engineering,
Kamalakar Chatla - Basic Sciences,
Lakshmi Pillai - Basic Sciences,
Hasan Tekedar - Basic Sciences,
Atilla Karsi - Associate Research Professor Basic Sciences.
- Mark Lawrence and Attila Karsi received
a grant from the USDA to study “Live attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccines
for prevention of enteric septicemia of catfish”. The grant provides
$374,770 for this work, which is to be completed in 2012.
- Jan Chambers was appointed Vice Chair of the
Scientific Advisory Panel for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
relies on advice from this panel of nationally prominent experts in
making important regulatory decisions.
- Attila Karsi is Co-Principal Investigator for a
grant from the National Science Foundation. This grant will provide
funds to support 9 African American undergraduate students for the
summer to conduct a research project in the lab of an MSU faculty member.
The grant provides $452,000 for these activities and will allow the
College of Veterinary Medicine to continue our progress in recruiting
a more diverse group of veterinary and graduate students. More importantly,
it will give these students a potentially life-altering experience
in research.
- Fiona McCarthy is a co-investigator for three recently funded grants totaling approximately $2.2 million. Bindu Nanduri are also involved in some of these projects. The topics include genomic analysis of crocodilian species and horses as well as analysis of the role of micro RNAs in the immune system in chickens. This funding both demonstrates and strengthens the prominent position of MSU investigators in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics of animals.
