Rahul Kumar, an incoming clinical professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, will serve as the new director of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL).
The CVMDL is housed in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).
“I am thrilled that Dr. Kumar will serve in this critical role,” says Kumar Venkitanarayanan, dean of CAHNR. “The CVMDL provides essential surveillance and diagnostic expertise to residents and agencies in our state and the region, which help keep our communities safer from zoonotic disease.”
Kumar is an accomplished veterinary diagnostic leader with over a decade of experience in the field.
Before coming to UConn, Kumar served as the director of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and Cotton Ivy Laboratory, a statewide diagnostic and food-safety system with a $10 million annual budget and a team of roughly 70 scientists and staff. There he maintained full compliance with USDA, FDA, and ISO/IEC standards, modernized diagnostic infrastructure, and secured multimillion-dollar federal, state, and industry funding to expand testing capacity.
Kumar has held leadership and scientific roles spanning government, industry, and academia. He has worked as a senior scientist for VMRD, Global Diagnostics at Zoetis inc., and the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. He was an assistant professor of veterinary pathology at the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry at DUVASU, Mathura, India, for almost five years.
As a scholar, Kumar has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications related to pathologies in poultry, sheep, cattle, pets, and lab animals. He also developed novel tools including a recombinant virus-vectored vaccine and an in-situ hybridization assay for avian reovirus control and diagnostics.
He holds a Ph.D. in veterinary pathology and pathobiology from the University of Minnesota, and a master of veterinary pathology from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. His honors include the Netaji Subhash ICAR International Fellowship awarded to the top scientists by India’s equivalent of the USDA, Pomeroy Legacy fellowship, MnDrive scholarship and Zoetis’s Impact and Core Belief awards for vaccines and diagnostic innovation.
Kumar succeeds Dr. Guillermo Risatti, who is retiring. Risatti has served as CVMDL director since 2021 and has been a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science since 2004.
Supporting Public Health in Connecticut
The CVMDL is the only American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)-accredited laboratory in New England, serving as a critical resource for veterinarians, researchers, and public health officials across Connecticut and the broader region. The laboratory provides timely and accurate diagnostic services that help detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, safeguard animal and public health, and support the state’s agricultural industries.
As a full-service veterinary diagnostic facility, CVMDL plays a crucial role in detecting diseases in companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. The laboratory specializes in pathology, microbiology, virology, molecular diagnostics, and toxicology, offering an extensive range of diagnostic tests to support animal health professionals.
Beyond serving the veterinary community, CVMDL collaborates with state and federal agencies to monitor and respond to emerging infectious diseases, including zoonotic threats that could impact human health. The lab is also instrumental in the early detection of diseases such as avian influenza, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses, which are particularly relevant in Connecticut’s ecosystem. The lab’s expertise in identifying emerging diseases also supports proactive measures to mitigate potential outbreaks, safeguarding both animal and human populations.
“I’m honored to lead the CVMDL and the talented team behind it,” says Kumar. “This laboratory sits at the intersection of animal health, public health, and agriculture, protecting Connecticut’s animals, food supply, and communities every day. I look forward to building on its strong foundation, expanding our diagnostic capabilities, and deepening the partnerships with state and federal agencies that make rapid disease detection and response possible.”
This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally and Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.
Follow UConn CAHNR on social media
