Center for Zoonoses Research

CZR History and Today

The Center for Zoonoses Research (CZR) was established in 1960 for the purpose of implementing the necessary interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination of research in the areas of diseases common to humans and animals.

Over the years, with the emergence of new zoonotic diseases (for example, COVID-19 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks), foodborne pathogens, and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the CZR has evolved to develop strategies to help protect the nation’s agriculture and public health against zoonotic infectious diseases, food safety, and antibiotic resistance. To rapidly implement control and prevention strategies, the Center for Zoonoses Research has been focusing on translational research to develop effective vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostic tools, and antimicrobial stewardship.

CZR Leadership

  • Director: Dr. Peter Constable, Dean  
  • Scientific Co-Director: Dr. Gireesh Rajashekara, Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies 
  • Scientific Co-Director: Dr. Ying Fang, Professor of Pathobiology 
  • Scientific Co-Director: Dr. Brenda Wilson, Professor of Microbiology
  • CZR Advisory Board
  • Scientific Advisory Committee
  • Administrative Assistant: Julie Nguyen-Edquilang

Center Vision

To enhance the collaborative multidisciplinary research activities for effectively combating the animal infectious/zoonotic diseases.

Mission

To promote and develop:

  • Collaborative work among faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Illinois systems, and other institutions worldwide as an integrated dynamic program. 
  • Synthesize approaches to zoonoses and infectious disease research based on the unique expertise in veterinary and medical research from the molecular to the ecosystem level. 
  • Advance training programs to attract top graduate students, post-doctoral trainees, and visiting scientists. 
  • Collaborative research and diagnostic services with the Illinois Departments of Public Health and Agriculture. 
  • Dissemination of information from zoonoses research and diagnostics through the organization of conferences, seminars, and publications in various media.

Core Research Areas

The Center for Zoonoses Research brings academic researchers and diagnosticians together in a collaborative approach to solve critical problems in infectious diseases and zoonoses. Our work is organized into four core areas of interdisciplinary research, with each focusing on addressing the current challenge of emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses. The CZR will serve as a unique world center emphasizing translating basic mechanism studies into problem-solving solutions and services for zoonotic/infectious disease control and prevention. Four research/service cores include:

  • Core A: Emerging Pathogens and Diagnostic Technologies 
  • Core B: Microbial and Data Science  
  • Core C: Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Disease Models 
  • Core D: Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance

Technologies developed in the center will be integrated into educational platforms to enhance research training and learning environment for the DVM and graduate students, in which new courses and curriculum will be developed. The CZR will enhance the real-world application of novel technologies by engaging with industry partners and field practitioners.

Center Membership

The CZR members include faculty, students/trainees, and staff within the university and outside institutions. These members will build collaborative interdisciplinary research.

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Center Members (listed by research/service cores):

Core A: Emerging Pathogens and Diagnostic Technologies

Core B: Microbial and Data Science

Core C: Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Disease Models

Core D: Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance

Recent and Upcoming Events

  • 22nd International Conference of Swine Viral Diseases (Jan. 16-17, 2026)
  • The Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (Jan. 17-20, 2026)