Dr. William Wilson works as Researcher Microbiologist at the USDA, ARS, Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (ABADRU), Manhattan, KS. Obtained his BSc (honors, 1979) and PhD (1985) in Animal Science at the University of Illinois. He was a Cromwell Postdoctoral Fellow and is a Marty Vanier and Bob Krause Biosecurity Research Institute Fellow. He has served as a scientific consultant to the FAO/IAEA Joint Animal Health Division, Affiliate Faculty at Colorado State University, Texas A&M and Washington State University. Currently serves as Adjunct Professor at Kansas State University and an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria. Wilson is interested in virus-vector-host interactions and is developing novel strategies for detection, characterization and mitigation of arboviral pathogens. Focusing on the molecular biology of arboviruses that cause important OIE trans-boundary animal diseases (TADs) including Bluetongue, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever and Vesicular Stomatitis viruses. His research has resulted in the ability to monitor viral movement using genetics, the collaborative development of diagnostics and candidate vaccines. Overall goal of his program is to utilize the ABADRU’s unique multidisciplinary expertise to fill gaps in knowledge about arboviruses. Dr. Wilson collaborates with several US national and international partners including the Kansas State University, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization, Kenya Department of Veterinary Services, Kenya Wildlife Services, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and the University of Pretoria. These scientific activities have generated 10 book chapters and more than 110 peer-review manuscripts.