Veterinary researchers study poultry virus as human cancer treatment

“We are excited about the endless possibilities that Newcastle disease virus offers to treat cancer,” said Subbiah.

This is the second major grant awarded to the researchers for the work aiming to create a cancer therapy from genetically altered Newcastle Disease virus.

Subbiah received his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science in 1984, master’s degree in veterinary science in 1989, and Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology in 1996 from the Madras Veterinary College in Madras, India; and he was boarded in virology from the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists in 2003. He was a research assistant professor at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine’s College Park, Md., campus prior to joining Virginia Tech in 2006.

Samal received his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from Orissa Veterinary College (India) in 1976, his master’s degree in veterinary science from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, and master of science and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University. He joined the faculty at the University of Maryland in 1988, and is currently the associate dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and chair of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland in College Park.

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) is a two-state, three-campus professional school operated by the land-grant universities of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and the University of Maryland at College Park. Its flagship facilities, based at Virginia Tech, include the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which treats more than 40,000 animals annually. Other campuses include the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., and the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center at College Park, home of the Center for Government and Corporate Veterinary Medicine. The VMRCVM annually enrolls approximately 500 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate students, is a leading biomedical and clinical research center, and provides professional continuing education services for veterinarians practicing throughout the two states. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.