Prof Emeritus Dr Karel Schat

K.A. Schat, Professor Emeritus, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. 

Karel A. (Ton) Schat received his DVM degree from the University of Utrecht in 1970 and his PhD degree from Cornell University in 1978. He worked from 1971-1975 in Mexico on Marek’s disease as part of the Dutch Technical Aid Program. In 1978 he joined the faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Cornell University, where he retired in 2011 as a Professor in Avian Virology and Immunology. He is well known for isolating the SB-1 vaccine strain of Marek’s disease and research on the pathogenesis and immunology of Marek’s disease. In addition, he has contributed significant new knowledge of chicken anemia virus, rotaviruses, Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in house finches and avian influenza. Ton has published over 184 papers in peer-reviewed journals and more than 45 book chapters. He served as co-editor of the three editions of Avian Immunology. His contributions to avian disease research have been recognized with several awards. In 1987 he received the Dr. Bart Rispens Award. H was inducted in the Hall of Honour of the World Veterinary Poultry Association in 2013 and in the Hall of Honor of the American Association of Avian Pathologists in 2016.