Schofield Lecture with Dr. Yasuko Rikihisa
The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is thrilled to announce that the 2025 Schofield Lecture will be given by Dr. Yasuko Rikihisa, Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University, on November 19th.
Dr. Rikihisa is a member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a member of U.S. National Academy of Innovators, and The Ohio State University’s 2011 Innovator of the Year. She is a leading expert on vector-borne infectious diseases, specifically those caused by Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Neorickettsia (tick or trematode-borne obligatory intracellular bacteria) in the order Rickettsiales.
Her basic research discovered novel mechanisms associated with infection and replication of these bacteria within primary host defensive human white blood cells. Recent efforts of her laboratory have been to create transposon mutants of these bacteria and develop intracellular nanobodies and molecular vaccines to inhibit this group of pathogens. Dr. Rikihisa also conducts translational research on the development of simple and reliable molecular diagnostic methods, and she has received UK Kennel Club Charitable Trust International Canine Health Awards in 2018 for this work.
The prestigious Schofield Memorial Lecture, established in 1970, brings the world’s top researchers in veterinary medicine to OVC to present their work to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader University of Guelph community. Held annually in the fall semester, this lecture series helps bring exposure to veterinarians and other individuals associated with the veterinary profession who play key leadership roles in the diverse areas in which veterinary medicine has substantial impact.
Join us for the 2025 Schofield Lecture on November 19th, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in person in OVC's ELCA, Room 1720 and virtually via Teams.
