Department of Veterinary Medicine

What Department of Veterinary Medicine does

The Department of Veterinary Medicine is an academic research unit within the University of Maryland College Park, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and a Maryland-campus constituent of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM), a dual-state professional school partnership with Virginia Tech. Housed in the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center at 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, the department was founded in 1897 and added a research mission in 1917; it operates today with roughly 12 faculty and small support staff, an 18,000-sq-ft BSL-2/2+/3+ vivarium, 32,000 sq ft of research laboratories, and a shared Core Facility providing genomics (Illumina MiSeq whole-genome sequencing), flow cytometry, imaging, and proteomics.

The department's technology portfolio is centered on infectious-disease pathogenesis and vaccine development across virology, bacteriology, immunology, parasitology, and molecular epidemiology. Proprietary platforms include an FcRn-mediated mucosal vaccine delivery system (patented and licensed; covers influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, HSV-2, HIV-1), a recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus vector for ILTV (US Patent 10,383,936 B2), a PRRSV vaccine promoting interferon signaling, bacteriophage endolysins (PlyC) as antibiotic alternatives for bovine mastitis and MRSA, and a tick-borne disease research program running under a $7.7M NIH P01 grant (2018–2023) covering Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The department also operates a molecular epidemiology laboratory using next-generation sequencing for pathogen surveillance in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Delmarva poultry industry.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue flows from federal research grants (NIH, USDA), state appropriations, university budgets, extension contracts, and licensed patents, rather than product sales. Graduate education (MS/PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, formerly VMSC) and extension services (poultry biosecurity training) constitute the principal service offerings. Funding milestones include the $7.7M tick-borne P01, $3.5M NIH Lyme vaccine grant with Thomas Jefferson University, $3.1M NIAID award, $2.3M Cryptococcus neoformans grant, $2M enterovirus R01, $650K USDA H5N1 nasal vaccine award, and $498.5K USDA PlyC mastitis award, alongside TEDCO MII and UM Ventures seed grants. Strategic partners include NIH, USDA, IBBR, Yale, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Jefferson Vaccine Center, Integrated BioTherapeutics, Viriom Inc., Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC).

Name

Department of Veterinary Medicine

Legal name

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland

Website

https://vetmed.umd.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Department of Veterinary Medicine is an academic research unit at the University of Maryland College Park and the Maryland campus of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, conducting infectious-disease and vaccine R&D and offering MS/PhD degrees in Comparative Biomedical Sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Education and Biomedical Research

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Pharmacy, Vaccine & Biologics Services (AFAEANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Vaccines (Biologics) (HLAMAEAL), Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories & Pathology (AFAEANAF), Veterinary Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Culture/PCR/Serology) (HLAMADAC), Veterinary Vaccines (HLAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Veterinary medical research
• Infectious disease research
• Biomedical sciences education
• Vaccine development research
• Poultry health extension

Headquarters

HQ city

College Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Veterinary Medicine offers graduate education (M.S. and Ph.D.) in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, conducts biomedical and infectious disease research across virology, bacteriology, immunology, parasitology, and epidemiology, and delivers extension/outreach services (notably to the Delmarva poultry industry). It operates a shared Core Facility with genomics, flow cytometry, imaging, and proteomics resources and develops patented vaccine and therapeutic technologies for both animal and human health.

Product overview

The Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland is an academic research and education department within the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. It does not offer commercial products or services. The department provides graduate education programs (Comparative Biomedical Sciences MS/PhD), conducts research in infectious diseases and biomedical sciences, and offers extension/outreach services including poultry health management and biosecurity training. The department operates a Core Facility with imaging, flow cytometry, genomics, and proteomics resources available to researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBSC) Graduate Program M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (formerly Veterinary Medical Sciences / VMSC) covering infectious diseases, zoonoses, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, virology, parasitology, and poultry health management. Open to domestic and international students.
• Poultry Extension Program Extension and applied research program focused on improving poultry health and production through biosecurity training, disease prevention, and outbreak response for the Delmarva poultry industry. Delivered via the Poultry Extension Team under Dr. Nathaniel Tablante.
• Core Facility Research Services Shared Core Facility providing genomics, flow cytometry, imaging, and proteomics resources to internal and external researchers at the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center.
• One Health Seminar Series (VMSC698) Weekly One Health Seminar Series (VMSC698) held Thursdays at 11:00 am at the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center, covering veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences, and One Health topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000 estimated Lyme disease cases annually in US - department developing first vaccine in 20 years
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Integrated BioTherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dr. Daniel Nelson to advance a new immunotherapeutic against anthrax, receiving NIH STTR Phase II award for development of novel approach to treating infectious disease
• Thomas Jefferson University - Jefferson Vaccine CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dr. Utpal Pal on Lyme disease vaccine development using rabies virus as a platform for vaccine delivery, funded by $3.5M NIH grant
• IBBR (Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional research center where Dr. Nelson serves as IBBR Fellow, collaborating on bacteriophage research and other infectious disease projects
• Yale UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-PI institution on NIH P01 grant for tick-borne disease research alongside University of Maryland School of Medicine
• University of Maryland School of MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-PI institution on NIH P01 grant for tick-borne disease research with Yale University
• Viriom, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of Dr. Yanjin Zhang's research grant for antiviral drug therapies for SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Department of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dr. Kasey Moyes on dairy cow mastitis research testing PlyC endolysin treatment, and Dr. Mostafa Ghanem on molecular epidemiology
• Maryland Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement to expand sequencing services to support poultry industry needs for advanced pathogen detection and disease control

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Leading US veterinary school with parallel programs in infectious disease, virology, immunology, and poultry/livestock health. Comparable federal grant capture and One Health orientation.
• Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine: Midwest peer with overlapping animal disease, infectious disease, and vaccine research programs. Comparable federal grant structure and industry extension focus on livestock/poultry.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Top-tier US veterinary school with comparable infectious disease, immunology, and vaccine research programs. Comparable in poultry health, parasitology, and zoonotic disease research, with substantially larger faculty base.
• Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Comparable veterinary research institution with poultry health, infectious disease, and molecular epidemiology programs. Direct talent pipeline overlap (Dr. Ghanem previously led Global One Health initiatives at Ohio State).
• Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: Large veterinary research institution with significant infectious disease, biodefense, and poultry/livestock health programs. Comparable USDA and NIH funding profile.
• Virginia Tech Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: The Virginia-side parent institution of the same dual-state professional school (VMCVM). Hosts the DVM program at Blacksburg while UMD College Park hosts the graduate/research arm; directly comparable in research portfolio and One Health focus.
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine: Major US veterinary school with overlapping research in infectious diseases, immunology, and vaccine development. Shares NIH-funded research portfolio focus on zoonotic and emerging pathogens.
• University of Maryland School of Medicine: Co-PI institution on the NIH P01 tick-borne disease grant and shares the UMD One Health mission. Directly comparable in infectious disease research scope with adjacent human-health focus.

Broad incumbents

• NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Primary federal funder of the department ($7.7M P01, $2.3M R01, $3.1M award) and a major research performer in infectious disease. Comparable focus areas in virology, bacteriology, and vaccine development.
• USDA Agricultural Research Service: Federal research agency and direct funding/collaboration partner for UMD Vet Med on H5N1, mastitis, and poultry disease projects. Operates at much larger scale but with overlapping mandate in animal health and vaccine research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umd_vet_med

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Veterinary Medicine