Diego Diel DVM, MS, PhD - Chairman of SAB
KERMODE BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Dr. Diego Diel brings over two decades of expertise in virology, virus-host interactions, and veterinary diagnostics to Kermode Biotechnologies Inc., where his deep understanding of viral immune evasion mechanisms and disease pathogenesis directly supports the company's mission to develop innovative vaccine solutions for complex animal and livestock viral infections.
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Dr. Diel currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where he leads cutting-edge research focused on translating fundamental virology knowledge into improved vaccines and vaccine vectors for disease prevention and control. His research portfolio encompasses molecular mechanisms underlying virus-host interactions, with particular emphasis on viral immune evasion strategies that contribute to virulence and pathogenesis.
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Prior to his current role at Cornell, Dr. Diel served as Section Leader for Virology at the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory and Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University from 2014-2019. His expertise was further developed through postdoctoral research positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and as a Research Microbiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, where he received a Certificate of Merit for excellence in dedication, service, and outstanding mentoring of visiting scientists.
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Dr. Diel's applied virology research extends beyond vaccine development to include diagnostic assay development and livestock feed biosecurity, making him particularly valuable to Kermode's comprehensive approach to animal health challenges. His international perspective, gained through extensive research experience in both Brazil and the United States, provides unique insights into global animal disease challenges and solutions.
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Dr. Diel earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2004), Master of Science in Virology (2007), and Ph.D. in Virology (2010) from the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil. He is an active member of multiple professional organizations including the American Society for Virology, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, American Association of Veterinary Immunologists, and the American Society for Microbiology. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and he continues to contribute to the advancement of veterinary virology through his academic and research endeavors.