Comparative Pathology

About the Division

Peter Ernst, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Director of Comparative Pathology and Medicine
Co-Director of the UC Veterinary Medicine Center, San Diego

The Division of Comparative Pathology is based in the UC San Diego Department of Pathology. It is a part of the UC Veterinary Medical Center, a joint program of UC San Diego and UC Davis. Peter Ernst is the Division Head and the Co-Director of the UC Veterinary Medical Center.

The goal of the Division is to foster the development of comparative approaches to advance our ability to treat or prevent disease in humans and animals. Members of the Division offer post-graduate clinical and research training programs for veterinarians as well as mentor graduate students and post-doctoral research fellows. Several members of the Division organize related courses that may be of interest to research students and fellows at any stage of their training.

Expertise in comparative pathology is available through the histology core and clinical pathology services which support the phenotyping of mice and evaluation of health/disease in animal models. Specialty services in neuro-muscular pathology, neuropathology and gastrointestinal pathology are available.

• Neuromuscular Pathology
• Mouse Histology and Phenotyping Core
• Comparative Placentation

Our Mission

The Division fulfills the three-fold mission of the University as follows:

1. Teaching
   1. Courses
      
      • BIOM 234/ BGGN 234. Practical Histopathology in Mouse Models of Human Disease: Guides to Phenotyping the Genetically Altered Mouse. Course Director: Nissi Varki
   2. Residency
      • Lab Animal Medicine - Director: Phil Richter
      • Clinical Veterinary Microbiology - under development
2. Service
   1. Pathology of Genetically Altered Mice. Director: Nissi Varki
   2. Clinical Pathology of Genetically Altered Mice. Director: Dzung Le
   3. Diagnostic Comparative Neuromuscular Pathology Laboratory. Director: Diane Shelton
   4. Animal Care Program. Director: Phil Richter
   5. Marine Mammal Pathology and Medicine. Oversight: Sam Ridgway
3. Faculty Research
   • CORBEIL, Lynette, D.V.M., Ph.D. - Professor
   • ERNST, Peter, D.V.M., Ph.D. - Professor, Director of Comparative Pathology
   • LE, Dzung T., M.D., Ph.D. - Associate Professor
   • SHELTON, G. Diane, D.V.M., Ph.D. - Professor
   • SIGURDSON, Christina J., D.V.M., Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
   • VARKI, Nissi, M.D. - Professor

Our Partners

Partners at UC San Diego

• Center for Veterinary Sciences and Comparative Medicine
• Center for Mucosal Immunology, Allergy and Vaccine Development​

Partners at UC Davis

• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
• Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology - UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
• Mouse Biology Core