Biography

Dr. Suzan Murray is a board-certified zoo veterinarian at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and serves as both the program director of the Global Health Program and as the SCBI's chief wildlife veterinary medical officer. She leads an interdisciplinary team engaged in worldwide efforts to address health issues in endangered wildlife and combat emerging infectious diseases of global significance, including zoonotic diseases. Dr. Murray also acts as the Smithsonian liaison to the Foreign Animal Disease Threat and Pandemic Preparedness subcommittees of the White House's Office of Science and Technology. Dr. Murray's work focuses on providing clinical care to free-ranging wildlife, pathogen detection, advanced diagnostics, training of international veterinarians and other health professionals, capacity building, and collaboration in infectious disease research at the human-wildlife-domestic animal interface. She previously served as chief veterinarian for the Smithsonian's National Zoo and has a wealth of clinical knowledge and experience with wildlife and zoo animals both free-ranging and in human care.

Dr. Murray earned a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1984 and completed her veterinary degree in 1991 from Tufts University. After a surgical internship, she completed a residency in zoological medicine at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in 1995 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine (DACZM) in 2000. Dr. Murray has been either the principle investigator or co-principle investigator on several research grants including Morris Animal Foundation, Smithsonian Endowment, Smithsonian Women's Committee, and James Bond Funds.

Projects

Emerging Infectious Disease Research

Global Health Program researchers study areas where humans and animals interact to help detect and prevent the spread of zoonotic pathogens, which cause about 75 percent of infectious diseases that affect humans.

Lion and Cheetah Genetic Health in Kenya

Scientists are investigating carnivore genetics, population health and conservation management in Kenya's Maasai Mara region.

Novel Platelet-Derived Treatment for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV)

Smithsonian scientists are investigating EEHV, a virus that impacts Asian elephants.

PREDICT Kenya

By studying species in Kenya, scientists hope to better understand how diseases are transmitted from animals to humans.

PREDICT Myanmar

Researchers study bats, primates and rodents in Myanmar to better understand how diseases are transmitted from animals to humans.

Rhino Conservation and Medicine

Smithsonian scientists are conducting a rhinoceros medicine workshop in Kenya and investigating a skin infection plaguing the endangered black rhinoceros.

Satellite Tracking of Bats in Myanmar

Scientists are using novel technologies to track the long-distance movements of Indian flying foxes in Southeast Asia, a first for this species.

Wildlife Health

The Global Health Program identifies and addresses health concerns in threatened wildlife populations in East Africa and Southeast Asia.