Veterinary Research Journal
Open Access

Biography

Since 2015, Murugan Subbiah has been working as an Assistant Research Professor at the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health in Washington State University, Pullman, WA. Prior to that he has worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Texas and A & M University. He has a broad background in veterinary microbiology and epidemiology, with specific training and expertise in experimental- and survey-based research. His research includes identifying the drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food-animal production systems and understanding the impact of physiographic and socio-economic variables on the distribution of antimicrobial resistance. His research work laid the platform for researchers around the world to focus on farm environments as a critical driving force for the selection and spread of AMR in food-animals. His current NSF-funded research work determines the impact of social-, economical- and cultural-practices followed by different ethnic people and the physiographic variables on the distribution of AMR in northern Tanzania. He was instrumental in conducting surveillance-based research under exotic field conditions in Tanzania with limited resources. He is expert on using statistical and epidemiological tools to analyze huge survey data. His research in northern Tanzania showed that traditional practices such as drinking raw milk and inadequate hygienic practices drive the AMR prevalence in people. His goal is to identify novel yet affordable intervention strategies to prevent the spread and reduce the emergence of AMR in the food-animal production systems and in the animal-human interface.

Research Interest

Antimicrobial resistance; food-borne pathogens; antibiotic residues in the environment; role of environment in spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria; transmission dynamics of antimicrobial resistance.