Speakers

Colin Parrish

Professor
Baker Institute for Animal Health
Cornell University

Website: Parrish Lab

Topic: Flu in non-human mammals

Dr. Parrish has been on the faculty at Cornell University since 1988. His interest in virology has been focused on understanding emerging viruses, in particular those that cause epidemics in new hosts – including the canine parvovirus and H3N8 and H3N2 canine influenza viruses. In addition to studying the viruses, the laboratory has been seeking to clarify the general principles surrounding the ways in which viruses (or other pathogens) can transfer from one host to another and gain the ability to cause epidemics of disease. Also how we can anticipate – and preferably forestall – such outbreaks. This requires a multidisciplinary approach, and his lab has been able to study those more complex areas by working with many collaborators.

Erik Karlson

Deputy Head of Virology Unit
Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Cambodia

Director, National Influenza Center of Cambodia

Director, Regional WHO H5 Reference Lab

Dr. Erik Karlsson received his doctorate from the Department of Nutrition at the Gilling’s School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was also awarded certificates for study in Translational Medicine and Field Epidemiology.

Following completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Karlsson performed postdoctoral work at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Currently, Dr. Karlsson serves as the Deputy Head of the Virology Unit at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is the Director of the National Influenza Center and the Regional WHO H5 Reference Laboratory, and is integral to the ongoing global response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the Coordinator of the WHO COVID-19 Global Reference Laboratory.

Dr. Karlsson is an internationally recognized expert in influenza (both human seasonal and avian) and other respiratory viruses, especially those with zoonotic and pandemic potential. He consults for organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and is the founder of the Consortium of Animal market Networks to Assess Risk of emerging Infectious diseases through Enhanced Surveillance (CANARIES).