"Molecular Epidemiology of Human Pathogens from Livestock, Companion Animals, and Wildlife"

Dr. Ronald Fayer

Zoologist
Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory
Animal & Natural Resources Institute
Beltsville Area

Building 003 Auditorium
May 17, 2006
10:30 AM

Dr. Ronald Fayer has achieved worldwide recognition from peers in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public health for discoveries of the biology, epidemiology, and control of three major parasitic diseases of livestock and humans.

His pioneering development of cell cultures for testing of drugs against coccidiosis, a disease of livestock and poultry with annual U.S. losses in excess of $600 million, led to its widespread use for drug screening by pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Fayer led teams that discovered the sources and ultimately the control of Sarcocystis parasites responsible for muscular and intestinal disease in humans, poor growth and death in livestock.

Concepts from those studies have been applied to solving worldwide diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses. Through his national and international collaborations, molecular methods were developed enabling detection of Cryptosporidium affecting livestock health and the safety of food and drinking water.

As president of three national scientific societies and editorial board member of five scientific journals, Dr. Fayer has been devoted to promoting high ethical standards and high quality research in his field. The most recent recognition that Dr. Fayer received is the 2005 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Senior Professionals.