SPADA

Dr. Victoria Olson Microbiologist United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CHAIR, SPADA VARIOLA WORKING GROUP

Victoria Olson obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2001. Her dissertation focused on understanding transcriptional regulation by the baculovirus Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus immediate early protein (IE1). Dr. Olson then joined the Poxvirus Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education postdoctoral fellow in 2002. Her postdoctoral research focused on understanding how Orthopoxviruses interact with their hosts. While studying Orthopoxviruses , Dr. Olson completed training and certification for work at multiple biosafety levels, including work with variola virus within the Biosafety level 4 laboratories. In 2008, Dr. Olson became lead of the Virus-Host Molecular Interactions Unit within the Poxvirus Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She supervises 4 masters-level researchers, 1 post-doctorate, 1 veterinarian, and 1 technician. The Virus-Host Molecular Interactions Unit focuses on research aimed at understanding how Orthopoxviruses interact with their hosts and what measures are effective at abrogating disease progression and mitigating morbidity. Since 2005, Dr. Olson has been closely involved in the validation of real-time PCR diagnostic assays for use in clinical settings, with particular focus on obtaining regulatory approvals. During her 12 years within the Poxvirus Team, she has contributed to some 39 peer-reviewed publications.

David Wagner, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Associate Director, Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University SPADA F. TULARENSIS WORKING GROUP CO-CHAIR

Dave Wagner has been working with dangerous pathogens, including Bacillus anthracis , Yersinia pestis , Francisella tularensis , and Burkholderia pseudomallei , in field and laboratory settings since 1999. He is the Associate Director of the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics at NAU, which employs more than 60 faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Wagner has established research collaborations around the world, including F. tularensis research in Europe and Asia and Y. pestis research in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, among many others. His is broadly interested in the evolutionary history, phylogeography, and ecology of infectious disease agents.