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

626-301-8270
Richard Ermel, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Director and Professor, Division of Comparative Medicine
Research Area
  • Comparative Medicine
Academic Appointments
  • Director, Animal Resources Core

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

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.