Shayan Sharif

Dr. Shayan Sharif is the Interim Vice-President (Research & Innovation) at the University of Guelph, serving since August 2024. He concurrently holds roles as a Professor of Immunology and Interim Associate Vice-President (Research, Agri-Food Partnership), overseeing the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) partnership—the university’s largest research collaboration. His leadership includes managing research programs, training initiatives, and agri-food centers such as those at the Ridgetown Campus, while fostering public-private partnerships.

His research focuses on poultry diseases, particularly avian influenza and necrotic enteritis, emphasizing vaccine development and probiotic interventions. He led the Poultry Health Research Network and pioneered a translational health initiative bridging veterinary and human medicine. Sharif became a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2022.

Research Interests: Dr. Sharif’s work spans immunology, avian disease control, and translational medicine. He investigates host-microbiota interactions, vaccine efficacy, and the application of AI in agri-food systems. His studies on probiotics and TLR ligands highlight strategies to combat poultry pathogens.

Key Contributions: His publications address avian influenza surveillance via social media, probiotic-mediated immunity, and mRNA vaccine design for poultry. He advocates for antibiotic alternatives and interdisciplinary research to enhance global food security and public health.