New co-ordinator will further PHRN goals

A new co-ordinator for the Poultry Health Research Network (PHRN) will use his background and experience in academia and industry to further the PHRN’s objective of establishing a cross-disciplinary network of poultry researchers and health specialists.

Dr. Ravi Kulkarni recently joined the Ontario Veterinary College’s Pathobiology department as PHRN coordinator. His research expertise and interests are in poultry health, disease and vaccines.

He completed his Bachelors in Veterinary Science (BVSc) and Masters in Veterinary Parasitology and Immunology with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. He worked in the Torrent Research Center (pharmaceutical R&D) for a few years in India, before coming to the University of Guelph to complete his PhD with Dr. John Prescott, Pathobiology, focusing on necrotic enteritis vaccines in chickens.

Kulkarni completed his post-doctoral training with Dr. Shayan Sharif in avian immunology, with a fellowship supported by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.

Prior to returning to OVC, Kulkarni worked at the Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia for three years with Drs. Murali Kaja and Rafi Ahmed to gather further training in advanced vaccine immunology.

At present, PHRN has 52 members from various research disciplines of poultry science including nutrition, management, diseases, vaccines, economics, epidemiology, extension and industry, thus engaging stakeholders in both academia and industry.

PHRN’s objective is to establish a cross-disciplinary network of poultry experts to address problems ranging from basic biological processes, to environmental concerns and industrially relevant issues.