National expert addresses prion-based diseases

Devastating neurodegenerative diseases — from mad cow and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in animals to Creutzfeldt-Jakob in people — have seized headlines across the country, especially in areas with large deer herds. While much has been written, little is still understood about how these diseases have evolved and are transmitted, including the risk of animal-to-human transmission.

National expert Byron Caughey will offer the latest insight into prion-based diseases when he visits campus this week. Caughey researches CWD and related diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at an NIH lab in Montana.

Caughey’s visit is part of a Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar featuring a presentation for faculty and students at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, in Room 1345 of the Health Sciences Learning Center. On Friday, Oct. 8, Caughey will offer a free public forum at 3:30 p.m. in Room 2006 of Rennebohm Hall. For more information, contact Scott Rajski at 262-7582 or srrajski@pharmacy.wisc.edu.