Dr. Gisela Soboll Hussey was selected by the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine as the recipient of the 2020 Zoetis Award for Research Excellence for her work with herpesviruses. The Zoetis Award is a nationally recognized honor for a faculty member at each veterinary school in the United States. The award recognizes researchers whose innovative studies have advanced the scientific standing of veterinary medicine.

“Dr. Soboll Hussey is an outstanding candidate for this award. The contributions she has made to herpesvirus research are substantial and extremely noteworthy,” says Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan, associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College.

Soboll Hussey, DVM, MS, PhD, who joined the College in 2012 and earned tenure just six years later, is an associate professor in the College’s Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation. She directs her own laboratory, where she studies equine and feline herpesviruses. Soboll Hussey’s work is often funded by government agencies, foundations or industry; she currently has two projects focused on vaccine immune response and the pathogenesis of equine herpesvirus 1 infections that total more than $750,000 in funding.

“Her work on equine infectious diseases is well-funded. Clearly, Dr. Soboll Hussey’s work is on the cutting-edge of discovery, and is seen as a great investment,” says Dr. Dalen Agnew, chair and professor for the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation.

Soboll Hussey has reviewed articles for top journals, and she co-authored a chapter in the Encyclopedia of Virology. In the past three years alone, Soboll Hussey has published nine research papers regarding equine and feline herpesviruses; this year, she already has eight manuscripts in preparation. In addition to her research, Soboll Hussey is an admired and effective educator at the College. She supports undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary medical students, as well as postdoctoral researchers. She also formally mentors two of the College’s faculty members, while she is an informal mentor to many others.

“Dr. Soboll Hussey is an inspiration in research, especially for women, who are underrepresented in veterinary medical research,” says Agnew.

The Zoetis award was presented during the College’s Phi Zeta Research Day on Friday, October 23, 2020. To learn more about Dr. Gisela Soboll Hussey’s research, visit her laboratory webpage.