Excellence in Research Award

Winner of the 2007 Excellence in Research Award:

Dr. Siba Samal

Siba Samal

Dr. Siba Samal joined the faculty of the Department of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 and since then has developed an outstanding research program in animal paramyxoviruses. Over the years his research has focused on three important animal paramyxoviruses: bovine respiratory syncytial (BRSV) — a major cause of respiratory disease in calves; Newcastle disease virus (NDV)—a major pathogen of poultry; and avian metapneumovirus type C (AMPV), the most important major pathogen of turkey in the United States.

Due to his dedicated cutting-edge research, he is considered the world's leading expert in all three viruses. He was the first scientist in the world to complete the genome sequence and develop reverse genetics systems for all three viruses. He was also the first to identify a new group of fish viruses, known as aquareoviruses.

In 2006 Dr. Samal was invited to write a chapter on animal paramyxoviruses for the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Virology. In 2003 he was selected by his peers to lead the U.S. National Consortium of Newcastle Disease Virus, and in 2005 he was invited to serve on the White House office of Science and Technology Policy Exotic Newcastle Disease Focus Group. He has given over 150 presentations in national and international conferences, and has received over $9 million in intramural and extramural grants—one of the highest amounts received by a Principal Investigator in the history of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

He has one U.S. patent and three others pending. Recently, AVIMEX, an international poultry vaccine company, signed an agreement to manufacture NDV-vectored AI vaccine developed by Dr. Samal. He has advised three Master's students and nine doctoral candidates. He is currently the major advisor for an additional seven Ph.D. students.

Dr. Samal is a member of the Delmarva Poultry Industry Poultry Health Committee and attends Maryland Veterinary Medical Association meetings and coordinates departmental efforts to meet their needs. He has taught internationally and is active in college and campus international activities.

For more information, contact Gail Yeiser

Last updated: 03/9/2009