We are excited to present the following speakers for 2025:
Keynote Speaker
Allison Gardner, PhD: Dr. Gardner is a medical entomologist in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine. Her research focuses on the ecology of infectious diseases of humans and wildlife that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Dr. Gardner uses lab and field studies in conjunction with geographic, quantitative, and molecular tools to address questions related to 1) understanding the basic biology of arthropod vectors and the socio-environmental conditions that enhance disease transmission; 2) developing effective, sustainable vector management strategies that are grounded in ecological theory; and 3) predicting future hotspots of transmission to facilitate targeted public health prevention and intervention efforts. Dr. Gardner’s current projects include studying the impacts of land use and climate change on the invasion of the blacklegged tick and Lyme disease in Maine, investigating the ecology and management of a mosquito vector for Zika virus in the Bahamas, and understanding the interactions between risk of exposure to vector-borne disease and tourism at local and international spatial scales. Click here to learn about the Gardner lab.
Additional Speakers
Karen Cyndari, MD, PhD: Dr. Cyndari is an assiatant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine within the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. She is an Emergency Medicine physician dedicated to improving outcomes for all her patients. The Cyndari Laboratory studies the immune response within the joint space during infectious and inflammatory arthritis. These studies implement a unique ex-vivo system using synovial tissue from human patients. This Joint Space Analysis system (JSAS) allows research in a human model to further understand the arthritic joint space and identify new potential treatment targets. Click here to learn about the Cyndari lab.
Krista Duval, DO: Dr. Duval is a primary care physician and farmer in Athens, Ohio with a special interest in ticks. She practices medicine at OhioHealth and is an assistant clinical professor at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She hopes to connect agricultural workers, community-based scientists, public health officials, researchers and clinicians in their efforts to gather and share information. She is enthusiastic in her efforts to help her peers recognize the changing landscape of tick-borne diseases in Ohio and provide the best medical guidance on the topic. Click here for Duval’s profile page.
Leeanne Garrett, MPH-VPH: Ms. Garrett is a public health entomologist working in vector surveillance at the Ohio Department of Health.
Risa Pesapane, MS, PhD: Dr. Pesapane is an assistant professor with joint appointments in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine within the College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Environment and Natural Resources within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the impact of ticks and mites on human and animal health, understanding the ecological drivers of tick abundance and disease transmission, as well as how to manage ticks and mites in animals of conservation importance. Dr. Pesapane’s research is interdisciplinary and integrative. Taking a One Health approach, she collaborates with state and federal agencies, zoos, non-profit organizations and universities. Currently, her lab is spearheading tick identification efforts in Ohio. Dr. Pesapane is also responsible for finding and reporting the Asian longhorned tick in Ohio and developing educational outreach materials to inform the public of the threats that this and other invasive and emerging ticks pose. Click here to learn about the Pespane lab.
Yasuko Rikihisa, PhD: Dr. Rikihisa is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Veterinary Bioscienes within the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. Dr. Rikihisa studies the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of ehrlichioses (collectively including anaplasmosis, neorickettsiosis), vector-borne emerging infectious diseases of man and animals. Ehrlichiae are unique members of rickettsiae (obligatory intracellular bacteria) which infect leukocytes like HIV virus. These bacteria are found in nature in various species of vertebrates and invertebrates (ticks, trematodes, nematodes, and insects). The deletion of a large number of genes that are present in the genomes of free-living bacteria, including genes required for the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, and the acquisition of a cholesterol uptake mechanism have set these bacterial species on the path towards a life within eukaryotic cells. In contrast, the repertoire of genes encoding outer membrane porins and the type IV secretion system have been expanded to ensure nutrient acquisition and subversion of host antimicrobial defenses. Dr. Rikihisa’s research program embraces “from genomes to animal models” and “from field to molecular works”: to analyze these bacterial genomes; to investigate suspected bacterial virulence factors and host cell subversion and manipulation mechanisms in vitro; to analyze molecular mechanisms of ehrlichial transmission from vectors to mammals; and test putative disease mechanisms in cultured cells and in relevant animal models to improve diagnostic methods and develop effective vaccines. Click here to learn about the Rikihisa lab.
Jonathan Yardley, DVM: Dr. Yardley is an associate professor, clinical track, the Department Veterinary Clinical Sciences within the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. Yardley is currently training in the College of Nursing to become a certified wellness coach. He is the co-chair of the well-being committee within the college. Click here for Yardley’s profile page.