Shayan Sharif

Dr. Shayan Sharif is the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).

 

Dr. Sharif earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. Dr. Sharif became interested in immunogenetics (especially poultry immunogenetics) while preparing his DVM thesis, which was entitled "Immunological aspects of Marek's disease in chickens". Following his graduation, Dr. Sharif practised for close to two years as a veterinarian in the broiler industry in Iran. Subsequently, he came to Guelph to pursue a PhD degree in the area of Immunology and Immunogenetics in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph. Dr. Sharif received a post-doctoral fellowship to begin his post-doctoral research in Immunology at The John Robrats Institute, London, Ontario. Dr. Sharif was recruited, as a member of the PIC-funded Poultry Program Team, to the Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph to establish a research program in poultry immunology.

 

Dr. Sharif's research is focused on elucidating the ways in which microbes interact with the chicken immune system. There are three main areas of research emphasis in Dr. Sharif’s lab: 1- Immunity and vaccines to Marek’s disease, 2- Immunity to avian influenza virus and vaccine development, 3- development of probiotics for enhanced immune responsiveness and gut health in poultry. The ultimate goal of his research programs is to develop better strategies to maintain and promote poultry health.