This photo was taken at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, where mosquito research is conducted. The lab monitors mosquito-borne diseases in an attempt to limit the spread of viruses such as West Nile, yellow fever and malaria. Photo by Eric Zamora/UF Emerging Pathogens Institute

Explore the fascinating world of emerging pathogens research, and learn more about the Emerging Pathogens Institute and its mission at the second annual Research Day event this Thursday, Feb. 5.

Faculty, students, administrators, general public and media are invited to attend the event to be held from from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Cancer/Genetics Research building on UF’s campus. Fifty-six posters will be exhibited in the building’s lobby, and featured interdisciplinary research will span all manners of novel and re-emerging infectious diseases affecting plants, humans, animals and food safety. The poster session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Rita Colwell, a former director of the National Science Foundation and current professor at the University of Maryland, College Park; and Dr. Balakrish Nair, director of the National Institute for Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Kolkata, India. Speeches will be given from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Cancer and Genetics Research Complex auditorium.

Featured research is by UF professors and graduate students, and scientists with the Florida Medical Entomology Lab in Vero Beach, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville and the Florida Department of Health.