American Committee on Arthropod-Borne Viruses (ACAV)

February 2012, ACAV Chair in the News: Read the Wisconsin State Journal article about the University of Wisconsin-Madison's work in biosafety. Kristen Bernard, ACAV sub-group chair, pictured and referenced in the article, is associate professor of pathobiological sciences at UW-Madison.

Learn how ACAV was formed, and get details on its governance structure.

The ACAV meets annually in association with the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). An executive council is the governing body of the ACAV, the member of which serve four-year renewal terms.

All people interested in joining the ACAV may do so by attending a meeting and signing their name to the attendance sheet or by contacting the Executive Council Chair at the address listed below. Membership in the ASTMH is not a requirement for membership in the ACAV.

ACAV Awards

The ACAV presents three awards. The chair of the executive council appoints a nominating committee for each award. Recipients of awards are selected by the executive council. This procedure provides the nominating committee with nominations and documentation from ACAV members.

1. The Dalrymple/Young Award is given approximately every three years to a mid-career investigator who has made an outstanding contribution to arbovirology. Submit your application online beginning May 8.

Dalrymple/Young Award Recipients
Jonathan Towner, 2010
Heinz Feldmann, 2005
Scott C. Weaver, 2002
Stuart T. Nichol, 1999
Connie Schmalijohn, 1996
Donald S. Burke and James W. LeDuc 1989
Barry J. Beaty, 1988
Thomas Monath, 1985
David H.L. Bishop, 1982

View recipient photos here.

2. The Richard M. Taylor Award is given every three years to a person who has made outstanding contributions to arbovirology throughout his or her career. Read more about Richard M. Taylor.

Richard M. Taylor Award Recipients
Barry Beaty, 2012
CJ Peters, 2012
Thomas Yuill, 2009
Robert Tesh, 2009
Charles Calisher , 2006
Frederick A. Murphy, 2002
Philip K. Russell, 2000
Leon Rosen, 2000
Scott Halstead, 1999
Tom Monath, 1994
James Hardy, 1990
Robert E. Shope, 1987
Karl Johnson, 1987
Harry Hoogstral, 1984
Thomas H.G. Aitken, 1984
Telford Work, 1981
Ottis and Calisa Causey, 1980
Wilbur Downs, 1979
Pedro Galindo, 1977
Roy W. Chamberlain, 1975
William C. Reeves, 1973
W. McD. Hammon, 1970
Jordi Casals, 1968
Richard M. Taylor, 1966

View recipient photos here.

3. The Scherer/Hardy Award is given biannually to an outstanding graduate either before graduation or up to three years post-graduation. Read more about William F. Scherer and James L. Hardy. Submit your application online beginning May 8.

Scherer and Scherer/Hardy Award Recipients
Brian Bird, 2010
Patricia V. Aguilar, 2007
Gregory D. Ebel, 2004
Aaron Brault, 2001
Kurt Kamrud, Ann M. Powers, 1997
Scott C. Weaver, 1993
George Ludwig, 1989
Daniel Sundin, 1986
Rebeca Rico-Hesse, 1983

View recipient photos here.

Medals for the Dalrymple/Young and Taylor Awards are retained by the treasurer until they are requested by the chairperson for presentation at the annual committee meeting.

Kelly Labell Student Travel Award 

The Kelly Labell Student Travel Award will be made to one graduate student each year who is conducting research on Eastern Equine Encephalitis or other mosquito-borne viral diseases. Applicants will be required to prepare and submit an abstract and a letter of recommendation from a major professor or an advisor of the research committee. The committee will review the applications and select the awardee. The award is $2000 to pay for registration and travel/lodging to attend the annual meeting. The funding for this award is donated by the Rick Labell family, Raymond, New Hampshire, whose daughter, Kelly, suffered a fatal Eastern Equine encephalitis viral infection in 2005. Since the passing of their daughter, the Labell family continues to support activities aimed at the prevention and control of Eastern Equine encephalitis. Image

Kelly Labell Student Travel Award Recipients
Andrea Bingham, 2012
Patrick Vander Kelen, 2011
Sheri Anderson, 2010
Nicole Arrigo, 2009

Robert E. Shope International Fellowship in Infectious Diseases

Robert E. Shope, MD (1929 – 2004) devoted his career to the study of viruses carried by mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects. One of the world’s foremost authorities on insect-borne viruses, he discovered and characterized more previously unknown viruses than any other person in history. He was often called a “walking encyclopedia” of viruses, who made major contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases and the promotion of global health. His lifelong contributions to our understanding of arthropod-borne viruses, hemorrhagic fever viruses and the diseases these viruses cause are without equal.

The Robert E. Shope International Fellowship in Infectious Diseases provides support for international training opportunities in arbovirology and emerging diseases for those with an MD, DVM, PhD or related doctoral degree. View the fellowship application guidelines.

Annual Meeting Activities

In addition to award presentations, the agenda for each annual meeting includes old and new business, epidemic reports and a symposium on a relevant topic. Prospective symposium topics are discussed by the executive council and solicited from the committee membership, but the final decision on what will be presented is determined by the chairperson.

ACAV Executive Council Members - 2013

Position Member  Term Expires 
Chair  Kristen Bernard  2015
Past-chair Ann Powers  2015
Secretary  Laura Kramer  2013
Treasurer  Scott Weaver  2013
Archivist/Historian  Donald Burke 2013
Councilor Michael Drebot  2015
Councilor  Greg Ebel  2015

ACAV Subcommittees
Subcommittees are an important part of the ACAV and are formed when sufficient interest is presented to the executive council by ACAV members. The council reviews proposed subcommittees and decides whether a particular subcommittee is needed. When council approves the formation of a subcommittee, it appoints a chairperson. The subcommittee chairperson, in consultation with the ACAV chairperson, appoints subcommittee members. New subcommittees formalize their objectives and structure. All subcommittees report progress on objectives at the annual meeting to the ACAV.

Subcommittee on Arbovirus Laboratory Safety (SALS)
Tom Ksiazek (Chair)
Harvey Artsob
Kristen Bernard
Sherry Henry
Stephen Higgs
Peter Jahrling
C.J. Peters
Ann Powers
Pierre Rollin
Walter Tabachnick
Robert Tesh
Scott Weaver

Subcommittee for Evaluation of Arthropod-Borne Status
Michael Turell (Chair)
Harvey Artsob
Greg Ebel
Steve Higgs
Robbin Lindsay
Donald McLean (retired)
Chris Whitehouse

Subcommittee on Information Exchange (SIE)
Ann Powers (Chair)
Carol Blair
Charlie Calisher
Mike Drebot
Brian Hjelle
Nick Komar
Tom Ksiazek
Christopher Mores
Pierre Rollin
Robert Tesh
Mike Turell
Scott Weaver

Subcommittee on Inter-relationships Among Catalogued Arboviruses (SIRACA)
Scott Weaver (Chair)
Nicole Arrigo
Carol Blair
Thomas Briese
Charlie Calisher
Gerhard Dobler
Mike Drebot
Brian Hjelle
Tom Ksiazek
Jim LeDuc
Christopher Mores
Ann Powers
Pat Repik
John Roehrig
Connie Schmaljohn
Robert Tesh
Amelia P.A. Travassos da Rosa
Pedro F.C. Vasconcelos

Subcommittee for Kelly Labell Student Travel Award
Douglas Watts
Scott Weaver
Ann Powers

Subcommittee on Low Passage Viruses (SLPV)
Robert Tesh (Chair)
Curt Hayes
Tom Ksiazek
George Ludwig
Ann Powers
John Roehrig
Amelia Travassos da Rosa
Pedro Vasconcelos
Douglas Watts

For more information on ACAV and its activities, contact Kristen Bernard at kbernard@vetmed.wisc.edu.