Tulane appoints Dr. Kasi Russell-Lodrigue as associate director and chief veterinary medical officer at TNPRC
Tulane University has appointed Kasi Russell-Lodrigue, DVM, PhD, as the new associate director, chief veterinary medical officer, and chair of the Division of Veterinary Medicine at the Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC).
Russell-Lodrigue, an associate professor of medicine who joined Tulane in 2009, has a distinguished career in veterinary medicine and research. She completed her doctor of veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University and her PhD in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University. She is board-certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.
Throughout her tenure at the TNPRC, Russell-Lodrigue has made significant contributions. She served as a clinical veterinarian for more than a decade and, more recently, as the assistant director for clinical and research medicine. She has also been deeply engaged in educational initiatives and mentorship opportunities, and has played a pivotal role in several high impact publications and research projects focused on infectious diseases, laboratory animal medicine, and nonhuman primate care.
Her ongoing commitment to compassionate laboratory animal care and extensive work in infectious disease research have been instrumental in advancing TNPRC’s mission to improve human and animal health through biomedical research. While collaborative research is her primary goal, Russell-Lodrigue has also secured independent funding for research on pathogens requiring high levels of biocontainment.
Jay Rappaport, PhD, director and chief academic officer of the TNPRC, warmly welcomed Russell-Lodrigue’s appointment, highlighting her expertise and extensive experience. “Dr. Russell-Lodrigue’s remarkable ability to foster authentic connections among our faculty and staff is a testament to her leadership,” Rappaport stated. “Her unparalleled enthusiasm for teaching, mentoring, and sharing the joys of scientific discovery benefits every project under her influence.”
The Tulane National Primate Research Center improves human and animal health through basic and applied biomedical research. As one of the seven National Primate Research Centers funded by the National Institutes of Health, the TNPRC contributes to the development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics for chronic and infectious diseases.
