Colin Parrish, Ph.D.

I did my BSc (Hons) degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology at Massey University in New Zealand, a Ph.D. in Virology at Cornell University in Ithaca NY, USA, and post-doctoral research at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. At Monash I studied Dengue virus with Peter Wright, and Kunjin virus with Ed Westaway. I have been on the faculty at Cornell University since 1988.
My interest in virology has been focused on understanding emerging viruses, in particular those that cause epidemics in new hosts – including the canine parvovirus and H3N8 and H3N2 canine influenza viruses. In addition to studying the viruses, the laboratory has been seeking to clarify the general principles surrounding the ways in which viruses (or other pathogens) can transfer from one host to another and gain the ability to cause epidemics of disease. Also how we can anticipate – and preferably forestall – such outbreaks. This requires a multidisciplinary approach, and we have been able to study those more complex areas by working with many collaborators.
As well as the many human researchers in the laboratory, and collaborating, the work has been supported by many helpers from the Order Carnivora – Jack, Jaffa, Lucille, Kai, Adelaide, Mr. O, Pandora, Chloe, Semé, and Scamps.