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DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2007

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2007

Joan K. Lunney, Ph.D. '68

Joan Lunney, Ph.D. '68 is an internationally recognized authority on swine immunology and genomics, with current research focusing on resistance to diseases, and special emphasis on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS). 

Joan initially chose teaching as a career, at Camden Catholic High School (N.J.), following her graduation with honors in chemistry from Chestnut Hill College. Summer research at the Corning Glass Works in New York and at American University preceded her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her Ph.D. degree in biochemistry in 1976, with associated research at the National Institutes of Health, and quickly embarked on a series of research posts at the Institutes' immunology branch. 

For the past 24 years, Dr. Lunney has served in various research capacities with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, in the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), which is generally regarded as the department's flagship location for research. 

Colleagues are consistent in their praise for Joan and for the impact of her life's work.

  • Dr. Mark Jenkins, research leader of the Animal Parasitic Diseases Lab: "Joan Lunney is one of our star scientists… carrying out cutting-edge research.
  • Dr. Cyril Gay, ARS national program leader for animal health: "She developed the first panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against specific swine immune cell subsets. Those mAb are now international reference standards for porcine immunology studies and are used in almost every study of swine disease, vaccine and organ transplant responses."
  • Dr. Phyllis Johnson, director of the Agriculture Department's Beltsville area: "She was the first to uncover protective immune mechanisms that control reactivity against foodborne parasitic pathogens of major importance to the U.S. swine industry."

Collaborators outside of the Beltsville research center are equally unanimous in their regard. Dr. Raymond Rowland, professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, refers to Joan as a pioneer in veterinary immunology." Dr. Jane Christopher-Hennings, associate professor in the Veterinary Science Department at South Dakota State University, suggests "Joan's name 'is synonymous with 'the expert' in the area of swine immunology." 

"Her research has been seminal in elevating the pig to common use as an experimental model for both swine and human diseases," Dr. Johnson concludes. "Because of her expertise, Dr. Lunney is regularly consulted by biomedical scientists worldwide for advice on their studies. She is the top 1% of scientists in animal health globally." 

Dr. Johnson further points out that "Joan served as Acting National Program Leader for Animal Health at a critical time, immediately after 9/11/01. She was actively involved in designing the national response to potential bioterror incidents, drafting issue papers" on diseases, vaccination plans, and anthrax, and in presenting research on emergency preparedness to the National Animal Health Emergency Management Steering Committee. 

Dr. Cynthia Baldwin, professor of virology and microbiology at the University of Massachusetts, is currently working with Joan on an international project to make "tools" to study vaccine development and infectious diseases in livestock and poultry, an endeavor that "is likely to ultimately prove very important in biosecurity to control the spread of diseases among animals needed as part of the food supply." 

Dr. Lunney's research accomplishments are documented in 140 publications. She is an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific meetings and has served on editorial boards for four professional journals, including the Journal of Immunology and the Journal of Animal Biotechnology. She served on the USDA national panels that initially developed the U.S. animal genome research program in 1989 and that set priorities for microbial genomics in 2000. 

For her seminal work in swine immunology, she was named Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist in 1996 by the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists and now serves as the organization's president. In 1998, she was elected international chair for veterinary immunologists as well as a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was recently elected secretary, and future chair, of the U.S. National Animal Genome Program. 

Dr. Jenkins also attests to one of Joan's many other talents-her mentoring of young scientists. "In addition to her traits as a research scientist, Joan Lunney has a genuine interest in young scientists and students…Joan recognizes the reality of scientific careers, especially as it pertains to women in science…Because of her guidance, many young people have received invaluable advice on career opportunities available to them…" 

Professor Baldwin captures the Joan Lunney known to all who work with her. 

She has provided service through her editorial board roles for several international journals and was elected by her peers in veterinary immunology to represent us to the greater immunology community as the board members for the Journal of Immunology. Her stature both in the subspecialty of veterinary immunology and among immunologists in general, combined with her leadership qualities, made her ideal for this role. Her scientific contributions and her generosity in performing service to her profession and mentoring junior scientists and post-doctoral fellows makes her one of the most well-known, respected scientists in her field. She is definitely a 'go-to' person. 

The Chestnut Hill College Alumnae & Alumni Association is proud to present its 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award to Joan Lunney, Ph.D., Class of 1968, for her singular contributions to science research and service to her profession.

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