Alejandro Banda

Dr. Alejandro Banda serves as Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, while concurrently holding the position of Executive Director for the MSU Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (MVRDLS). He leads the poultry and mammalian virology laboratories and oversees the vivarium operations, directing critical diagnostic and research functions.

His educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Georgia (2002)
• D.V.M. from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (1998)
• M.S. in Veterinary Medicine from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (1996)

Dr. Banda's research centers on veterinary virology with specialized expertise in poultry disease diagnostics and wildlife pathogen surveillance. His work bridges laboratory science with field applications, particularly in chronic wasting disease (CWD) ecology and avian influenza epidemiology. He employs advanced genomic techniques like iSeq100 and MinION sequencing for pathogen characterization, focusing on practical solutions for agricultural and wildlife health challenges. His investigations frequently address immunosuppressive diseases in poultry production systems and novel disease transmission pathways in wild species.

Recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward environmental disease surveillance methodologies, particularly leveraging natural animal behaviors for non-invasive CWD monitoring in deer populations. His work simultaneously addresses critical poultry health issues including neurologic diseases in commercial flocks and parasitic infections in exotic avian species, reflecting dual expertise in domestic animal medicine and wildlife disease ecology.

Dr. Banda actively directs laboratory operations at MVRDLS, managing the poultry virology section, mammalian virology laboratory, and vivarium facilities. His leadership integrates diagnostic services with research initiatives focused on emerging pathogens affecting both agricultural and wildlife populations in Mississippi and beyond.