Dr. Volker Gerdts, D.V.M.
Contact
Associate Director (Research)
Chief Science Officer
Head - Science Management Team
Responsibilities:
♦ Program Manager, Neonatal immunization
♦ Member, CpG and Immunomodulation group
♦ Member, VIDO Swine Tech Group
Education:
♦ Hanover Veterinary School, Germany, 1989-1994 (DVM)
♦ Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Island of Riems and Hanover Veterinary School, Hanover, Germany, 1997 (PhD equivalent)
♦ Post-doctoral fellow, VIDO, Canada, 1998-2000
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Current Research Interests:
1. Development of neonatal vaccines, for example against pertussis (whooping cough)
2. Innate immunity at the respiratory surfaces (antimicrobial peptides)
3. Basic mechanisms of intestinal immunity, lymphocyte trafficking, mucosal immunology, chemokines
4. Enteric infections such as E. coli in pigs.
5. Knowledge transfer of basic research into applied clinical research and producers
Major Accomplishments:
♦ Developed a novel disease model for pertussis in newborn piglets. This model is currently being used for the development of more effective vaccines against pertussis. This international project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and CIHR through the Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative.
♦ Developed a novel approach to immunize fetuses in utero through oral delivery of DNA vaccines.
♦ Developed a gut-loop model in large animals to analyze basic mechanisms of intestinal immunity.
♦ Developed a DNA vaccine for pigs against a porcine herpesvirus called pseudorabies virus (PRV).
♦ Analyzed the role of glycoprotein B of PRV in the immunopathogenesis of pseudorabies/ Aujeszky’s disease.
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