Richard Ermel, D.V.M., Ph.D.

626-301-8270
Meet Richard Ermel, D.V.M., M.P.V.M., Ph.D, D.A.C.L.A.M
Director and Professor, Division of Comparative Medicine
Research Area
Comparative Medicine
Appointments
Director, Animal Resources Core

Richard W. Ermel directs and oversees the Division of Comparative Medicine biomedical and translational research programs.

Location

Education & Experience

Degrees

  • 1994 American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Diplomate

  • 1992 University of California, Davis, PhD, Comparative Pathology

  • 1983 University of California, Davis, DVM, Veterinary Medicine

  • 1983 University of California, Davis, MPVM, Masters Preventive Veterinary Medicine

  • 1978 University of California, Davis, BS, Zoology

Professional Experience

  • 2006 - present, Director and Professor, Division of Comparative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2004 - present, Adjunct Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA

  • 2002 - present, Director, Animal Resources Center, City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA

  • 2002 - 2008, Professor, Department of Biology, Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA

  • 1998 - 2002, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

  • 1997 - 2002, Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

  • 1997 - 2002, Director, Laboratory Animal Resources and Research Facility, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

  • 1997 - 2002, Campus Veterinarian, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

  • 1994 - 1997, Associate Director, Animal Resources Service, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA

  • 1992 - 1997, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA

  • 1992 - 1997, Senior Laboratory Animal Veterinarian Director, Comparative Pathology Laboratory, Animal Resources Service, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA

  • 1988 -1991, NIH Trainee NIH Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Grant, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA

  • 1987 -1988, Resident Veterinarian Laboratory Animal Medicine, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources Service, Davis, CA

  • 1984 - 1987, Veterinarian Private Practice, Sacramento/Fair Oaks, CA

Research

Lab Members

The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) research mission is to engage in collaborative and independent service-directed applied research in laboratory animal science and comparative medicine.

Areas of research emphasis include: development of new biomodels (animal models of human disease); refinement of laboratory animal research environments and techniques; study of spontaneous and induced animal diseases and/or zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans); development of new diagnostic techniques for infectious/immune mediated diseases; and, development of therapeutic protocols/intervention and prevention strategies for human and animal diseases.

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2013 California Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Committee

  • 2012 California Biomedical Research Association Board of Directors

  • 2012 American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Recruitment and Education Oversight Committee

  • 2010 American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Career Pathways Committee

  • 2004 Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Sites Advisory Board

  • 2002 California Society for Biomedical Research Governing Board

  • 2000 Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International Ad Hoc Consultant/Specialist

  • 2000 Steering Committee for Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics

  • 1999 Texas Society for Biomedical Research Board of Directors

  • 1998 Texas A&M University, College of Medicine Task Force on Research Issues

  • 1988 National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow

  • 1979 Phi Zeta Society, Lambda Chapter, National Veterinary Medical Honor Society

Memberships

  • American Veterinary Medical Association

  • California Veterinary Medical Association

  • American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine

  • American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

  • American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners

Publications

  • Chomel, B.B., Ermel, R.W., Kasten, R.W., Henn, J.B., Fleischman, D.A., Chang, C. Experimental infection of dogs with various Bartonella species or subspecies isolated from their natural reservoir. Vet. Microbiol. 2013 (accepted).
  • Satheseesan, S., Figarola, J., Dabbs, T., Rahbar, S., Ermel, R.W. Effects of a new advanced glycation inhibitor, LR-90, on mitigating arterial stiffening and improving arterial elasticity and compliance in a diabetic rat model: aortic impedance analysis. British J. Pharmacol. 2013 (submitted).
  • Samineni, S., Ermel, R.W. Using research animals as sentinels: Consider the purpose. Lab. Animal 42 (9):317-318, 2013.
  • Jonnalagadda, M., Ermel, R.W. Reactivation of a suspended protocol: Do it by policy. Lab Animal 41 (9):250, 2012.
  • Samineni, S., Ermel, R.W. From “Designated Member” back to “Full Committee”: Not to late for FCR. Lab Animal 40 (1):11-12, 2011.
  • Putta, S., Adamson, T., Ermel, R. Noncompliance in survival surgery technique: Report to OLAW. Lab Animal 39 (8):234-235, 2010.
  • Jonnalagadda, M., Ermel, R.W. Multiple campuses, one IACUC: Campus AVs plus an institutional veterinarian. Lab Animal 38 (4):113-114, 2009.
  • Oki, G.S.F., Ermel, R.W., Whitson, R.H. Clinical care or protocol violation: Clinical scoring system and pilot study. Lab Animal 38 (1):8, 2009.
  • Helm, R.M., Ermel, R.W., Frick, O.L. Non-murine animal models of food allergy. Environ. Health Persp. 111:239-244, 2003.
  • Guo, J., Zhang, Z., Edwards, J.F., Ermel, R.W., Taylor, Jr., C., de la Concha-Bermejillo. Characterization of a North American orf virus isolated from a goat with persistent, proliferative dermatitis. Virus Res. 93:169-179, 2003.
  • de la Concha-Bermejillo, A., Kasari, E.M., Russell, K.E., Cron, L.E., Browder, E.J., Callicott, R., Ermel, R.W. Q fever: An overview. Proc. 105th Annual Meeting U.S. Animal Health Assoc. pp. 391-414, 2002.
  • de la Concha-Bermejillo, A., Ermel, R.W., Zhang, Z., Guo, J. Contagious ecthyma (orf) virulence factors and vaccine failure. Proc. U.S. Animal Health Assoc. Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. pp. 513-524, 2000.
  • Ermel, R.W. LAS Journal Club Commentary: Q fever. Lab. Anim. Sci.49(5):474 475, 1999.
  • del Val, G., Yee, B.C., Lozano, R.M., Buchanan, B.B., Ermel, R.W., Lee, Y.M., Frick, O.L. Thioredoxin treatment increases digestibility and lowers allergenicity of milk. J. Allergy & Clin. Immunol. 103(4):690-697, 1999.
  • Ermel, R.W., Kenny, T.P., Wong, A., Chen, P.P., Malyj, W., Robbins, D.L. Analysis of the molecular basis of synovial rheumatoid factors in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin. Immuno. Immunopathol. 84:307-317, 1997.
  • Ermel, R.W. Rodent parvoviruses: A brief review. Animal Technology 48(1):17 26, 1997.
  • Rodriguez, J.L., Ermel, R.W., Kenny, T.P., Brooks, D.L., DaMassa, A.J. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease digestion for selected members of the "Mycoplasma mycoides cluster" and Mycoplasma putrefaciens. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 9:186 190, 1997.
  • Buchanan, B.B., Adamidi, C., Lozano, R.M., Yee, B.C., Momma, M., Kobrehel, K., Ermel, R., Frick, O.L. Thioredoxin linked mitigation of allergic responses to wheat. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:5372 5377, 1997. 
  • Ermel, R.W., Kock, M., Griffey, S.M., Reinhart, G.A., Frick, O.L. The atopic dog: A model for food allergy. Lab. Anim. Sci.47(1):40 49, 1997.
  • Buchanan, B.B., Monma, M., Lozano, R., Yee, B.C., Kobrehel, Frick, O.L., Ermel, R.W. Reduction of allergenicity in plant foods by thioredoxin. Plant Physiol. 108:150, 1995.
  • Lozano, R., Buchanan, B.B., Frick, O.L., Yee, B.C., Ermel, R.W., Monma, M. Reduction of allergenicity in foods by thioredoxin. Allergy, Suppl.26, Vol.50:347,1995.
  • Wong, A., Kenny, T., Ermel, R., Robbins, D. IgG3 reactive rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis: Etiologic and pathogenic considerations. Autoimmunity 19:199 210, 1994.
  • Ermel, R.W., Kenny, T.P., Wong, A., Solomon, A., Chen, P.P., Robbins, D.L. Preferential utilization of a novel Vl3 gene in monoclonal rheumatoid factors derived from the rheumatoid synovial cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Arth. Rheum. 37(6):860 868, 1994.
  • Wong, A., Kenny, T., Ermel, R., Robbins, D. Human monoclonal rheumatoid factor derived from rheumatoid synovial cells monospecific for rabbit IgG. J. Rheumatol. 20(4):623 629, 1993.
  • Robbins, D.L., Kenny, T.P., Synder, L.L., Ermel, R.W., Larrick, J.W. Allotypic dependency of the specificity and avidity of human monoclonal IgM rheumatoid factors derived from rheumatoid synovial cells. Arth. Rheum. 36(3):389 393, 1993.
  • Ermel, R.W., Kenny, T.P., Chen, P.P., Robbins, D.L. Molecular analysis of rheumatoid synovial rheumatoid factors suggests an antigen driven response in inflamed joints. Arth. Rheum. 36(3):380 388, 1993.
  • Ermel, R., Kenny, T., Benisek, W., Roberts, M., Robbins, D. Allotype dependent stimulation of T lymphocytes and rheumatoid factor production by IgG3 in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin. Immuno. Immunopathol. 63(3):259 266, 1992.
  • Tenorio, E., Ermel, R., Giri, S., Brooks, D. Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection in goats as a model for rheumatoid arthritis. Lab Animal 21:33 36, 1992.
  • McGinn, M.D., Bean Knudsen, D.E., Ermel, R.W. Incidence of chronic otitis media in CBA/J and CBA/CaJ mice. Hearing Research 59:1 6, 1992.
  • Brooks, D.L., Ermel, R.W., Franti, C.E., Ruppanner, R., Behymer, D.E., Williams, J.C., Stephenson, J.C. Q fever vaccination of sheep: Challenge of immunity in ewes. Am. J. Vet. Res. 47(6):1235 1238, 1986.
  • Mariassy, A., Brooks, D., Ruppanner, R., Ermel, R., Behymer, D., Moore, P. Coxiella burnetti infection in sheep: Ultrastructural observations of the placenta. In Rickettsiae`and Rickettsial Diseases. J. Kazar, Ed. Bratislava, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 1985, pp. 318 324.
  • Ruppanner, R., Brooks, D.L., Behymer, D.E., Ermel, R.W. C. burnetti infections in ewes: Will vaccination prevent shedding in exposed animals? In The Contribution of Laboratory Animal Science to the Welfare of Man and Animals: Past, Present and Future. J. Archibald, J. Ditchfield, H.C. Rowsell, Eds. New York, Gustav Eizcher Verlag, 1985, pp. 85 88.