LAB NEWS
June 2020
Starting June 2020, we will Tweet our exciting lab news. So check out our Twitter feed located on Our Research page.
May 2020
Our lab has received a $500,000 3-year grant from United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, entitled “Epidemiology and pathogenicity of equine parvovirus hepatitis.” The long-term goal of this project is to reduce and/or prevent transmission and disease caused by EqPV-H. EqPV-H is a novel equine parvovirus strongly associated with Theiler’s disease, a highly fatal syndrome of fulminant hepatitis in horses.
Our graduate student Mason successfully passed his A-exam. Congratulations Mason!
April 2020
Our undergraduate student, Sanjna Das, received research funding from the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation for research she will be doing related to the role of miRNAs in determining susceptibility to carcinogen-induced cell death of mammary cells. Congratulations Sanjna!
Our paper on the tropism, pathology, and transmission of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis is published in Emerging Microbes & Infections . Congratulations Joy!
March 2020
Our paper on the efficacy of the mesenchymal stromal secretome against MRSA biofilm is published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine. Moreover, it was selected for a press release by the Editor-in-Chief. Congratulations Charlotte!
Our lab received seed funding from the Cornell Center for Immunology to determine the mechanism of hepatocelluar necrosis in equine parvoviral hepatitis.
Our paper on the First Report of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis-Associated Theiler's Disease in Europe is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal . Congratulations Mason!
December 2019
The Van de Walle Lab escaped the room in holiday spirit!
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December 2019
Our work showing that Equine parvovirus-hepatitis is the cause of Theiler's disease (a.k.a. serum hepatitis), a highly fatal liver disease in horses, has caught national veterinary attention. This work, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine has been highlighted in the Kester News Hour, a summary of the most important papers of the year in equine medicine, at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in 2019, and in the "Best Large Animal Internal Medicine Papers of the Year" talk at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine annual forum in 2019. Additionally, this work has resulted in the USDA issuing new regulations to ensure equine biologic products are free of this virus. This is expected to greatly improve the safety of antitoxins, plasma transfusions, and blood transfusions, which are frequently used in equine medicine.
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine: two links to the two papers:
Viral testing of 18 consecutive cases of equine serum hepatitis: A prospective study (2014-2018)
November 2019
Our post-doc, Charlotte Marx, has been awarded a 2-year Morris Animal Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship to study the heterogeneity of equine mesenchymal stromal cells in more detail. Congratulation Charlotte!
July 2019
Our Research Associate, Joy Tomlinson, has been awarded a 5-year NIH K08 Clinical Investigator Award to study the pathogenesis of equine hepatitis-associated viruses. Congratulations Joy!
May 2019
Our undergraduate student, Jennifer Fan, D.V.M. '21, tied for first place in the 2019 J.F. Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest with her essay "Animals in Court: The Early Days of Veterinary Forensics. Congratulations Jenn!
September 2018
Our Research Support Specialists, Rebecca Harman, won first prize for her oral presentation at the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association meeting in Sacramento, CA. Congratulations Becky!
April 2018
Our research on the potential of the mammary stem/progenitor to treat mastitis in cows has been featured in the latest issue of Dairy Herd Management.
April 2018
Our undergraduate student, Megan He, has been awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, based on the research she did in our lab during her honor’s thesis year. She will join the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University for her graduate studies, where she will continue conducting research in the field of stem cell biology. Congratulations Megan!
February 2018
Our PI, Gerlinde Van de Walle, will be talking about stem cells to the local Ithaca community.
January 2018
Our research on the antimicrobial properties of equine mesenchymal stromal cells is featured on the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine website.
February 2017
In recognition of the Van de Walle team's success in research related to the health of horses, Dr. Gerlinde Van de Walle has been named the Harry M. Zweig Assistant Professor in Equine Health. This three-year term endowed position recognizes a junior faculty member who shows promise and productivity in the field of equine research. Congratulations!
September 2016
The PI, Gerlinde Van de Walle, was awarded the Zoetis Award for Excellence in Veterinary Research. Congratulations!
July 2016
Our article on a novel cornea explant model to evaluate antivirals against feline herpesvirus type 1 is featured in The Cornell Chronicle.
November 2015
Our Research Support Specialist, Rebecca Harman, was awarded the Daversa Family Scholarship. Congratulations Becky!
April 2015
Our most recent article is featured in the latest issue of The Cornell Chronicle.
April 2015
Our graduate student Melissa McDowell has been selected to receive a 2015 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Congratulations Melissa!
March 2015
Our graduate student Matt Pennington won the first prize for his presentation at the Infection & Pathobiology Symposium at Cornell on March 6. Congratulations Matt!
March 2015
The lab recently received a 2-year grant from the Feline Health Center to study the specific inflammatory and immune responses induced by corneal FHV-1 infection.
February 2015
Sarah McDowell, a high school student who worked in our lab last summer, presented her work at the regional high school science fair with a poster entitled: Oncogenic Transformation of Mammary Stem Cells: Creating an in vitro Model of Cancer Stem Cells. She won first place in the Medicine and Health category, which qualifies her to present at the state science fair this month. Congratulations Sarah!
March 2014
The Van de Walle lab recently got awarded a 1-year seed grant from the Cornell Stem Cell Program (CSCP) to study the secretome of equine mesenchymal stem cells . This funding is to support nascent stem cell-related research projects and to stimulate cross-disciplinary collaborations at Cornell.
February 2014
Leen Bussche was awarded a BAEF post-doctoral fellowship. The Belgian American Educational Foundation Inc. (BAEF) is the leading independent philanthropy in the support of exchanging university students, scientists and scholars between the United States and Belgium. Congratulations Leen!
December 2013
The American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc. issued a $5,000 grant to support our research on canine mammary cancer. This non-profit organization is devoted to funding research projects that improve the health of the German Shepherd Dog. This support is in addition to our other benefactor, Pamela Green, who has been very generous to sponsor both our canine as well as feline cancer research for over the last 3 years. We are very grateful for their support!
September 2013
Leen Bussche was awarded the Bicknese Prize. The Bicknese Family Prize fund was established in 2005 by Dr. Joanne Bicknese ('76, DVM '78) as an annual award for research activities of a female scientist-in-training at the Baker Institute to provide support at a critical point in the candidate's academic or professional development and help launch her into a successful career. Congratulations Leen!