Community Engagement
The Center for Vector-Borne Disease at UTRGV works to actively engage both the UTRGV and Rio Grande Valley communities. Engaging the communities is accomplished through disseminating both student and faculty research results in regional, national and international conferences. Members of the center are encouraged to give seminars to local outreach and professional organizations. Outreach efforts also include providing expertise to local and regional agencies, including local government or media. Members also work to increase educational opportunities for UTRGV and the community in the field of vector-borne diseases. This is accomplished by hosting guest speakers to present on relevant topics and discussing topics of local interest such as ongoing research, emerging pathogens, or potential health impacts. Members also work with external partners to develop workshops and educational opportunities. They also provide outreach efforts to assist in the professional needs of local health officials and vector-control agencies.
The Center for Vector-Borne Disease Public Seminar - Dr. Erin Schuenzel will present From DNA to Diagnostics: Creating Molecular Diagnostics for Emerging Pathogens and Pests. The objectives are 1) The methodology of creating and using different types of DNA based molecular diagnostics, 2) The viruses, bacteria, and insect pests monitored for in the South Texas border.
November 30, 2022, at 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: UTRGV Edinburg Campus (EMAGC 1.318),
The Center for Vector-Borne Disease Public Seminar - Dr. Beatriz Tapia will be presenting on Arboviruses in South Texas - Vulnerable Populations. The objectives are 1) Recognize the incidence and prevalence of arboviruses disease in South Texas, 2) Describe the importance of improving education identifying and preventing arboviruses along the US - Mexico border.
September 29, 2021, at 4 - 5 pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://utrgv.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtcOmorDopE9zS14_O6zkVmB0dXRfDG4Ao
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
For more information call 956-665-7170 or email sylvia.alafa@utrgv.edu
The Center for Vector-Borne Disease Public Seminar Flyer
The 5th Annual South Texas Topical Medicine and Vector-Borne Conference held in February 2020. This year's purpose was to promote awareness of vector-borne diseases and the interdisciplinary approach involving the control and prevention of vector-borne diseases. The sessions included presentations on vector biology, vector surveillance, environmental health, public health, vector-borne disease, diagnostics, control techniques, laws, and regulations. This year's event brought experts from universities around the state, and state and local vector-borne agencies as well as research entomologists from the CDC Vector-Borne Disease Branch. Dr. Christopher Vitek, and students from his lab Jeremy Marshall and Rachel Malampy represented UTRGV. Also representing UTRGV is Dr. Teresa Feria's lab student Consuelo Aguilar. Jeremy, Rachel, and Consuelo all presented using a poster presentation of their research.
The UTRGV Center for Vector-Borne Disease hosted the third annual meeting of the Western Gulf Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease (WGCVBD) in June 2019. This meeting brought together participants in the WGCVBD for updates on research progress. In addition, scientists from the USDA, CDC, Mexico, and the Texas Department of State Health Services, Cornell University, and Oklahoma State University attended the meeting. This two-day event highlighted the research and education efforts, including a discussion forum for the students who may be interested in careers in the field of vector biology and vector-borne diseases. Guest speakers included Dr. Chris Paddock, a CDC pathologist and rickettsiologist as the keynote speaker, and Dr. Jay Morrow from the UTRGV School of Medicine.
The 4th Annual South Texas Tropical Medicine and Vector-Borne Disease Conference was held in February 2019 and focused on promoting awareness of vector-borne diseases in South Texas. The two-day event was attended by multiple local, state vector-borne agencies, and also included experts from around the state. The UTRGV CVBD members Drs. Vitek, Feria, and Thomas each presented, as well as a student from Drs. Vitek and Feria's lab, Wendy Westerheide. The next meeting in 2020 will include a student poster presentations that could involve UTRGV students.
Dr. Tamer Oraby gave a presentation to students at Sharyland High School in October 2019. The presentation was on research he conducted in the past and is currently working on related to vector-borne diseases among other related areas. The students displayed a great deal of interest in the topics and thought it's important to hear and learn more about them especially since many of them are planning to pursue a medical-related degrees.