Alves Research Group

The IDPS conducts comprehensive postmortem examination (i.e., necropsy) and tissue collection training on laboratory animal species; and provides complete microscopic tissue evaluation utilizing a wide array of diagnostic, molecular, and special studies to support spontaneous and experimental disease pathogenesis research primarily involving significant and/or emerging public health threats.

Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section Group Image

Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section, 2022: (left to right) Ms. Mahnaz “Mona” Minai, histotechnologist; Mr. Kevin Bock, histotechnologist; Ms. Bianca Nagata, histotechnologist; and Dr. Derron A. Alves, Chief, IDPS

Credit: NIAID

Derron A. Alves, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVP

Chief, Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Specialty(s): Infectious Disease

Education:

D.V.M., North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

B.S., Tuskegee University

Dr. Derron A.(“Tony”) Alves joined the IDPS in 2022 after 23 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army, culminating his career as the U.S. Army Surgeon General’s Consultant for Veterinary Pathology and Deputy Director, Veterinary Services and Public Health Sanitation Directorate, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

Learn more about Derron A. Alves, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVP

Image of Derron A. Alves, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVP

Kevin Bock, M.S.

Histotechnologist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Through routine and specialized histotechnology techniques to include, but not limited to, immunohistochemistry and molecular (DNA/RNA) support, Mr. Bock’s recent research collaborations have studied SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, influenza, malaria, chlamydia, coccidioidomycosis, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, tuberculosis, and sickle cell disease. Consequently, Mr. Bock’s contributions have been...

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Mahnaz Minai, M.S.

Histotechnologist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Languages Spoken: Farsi

Ms. Minai lends her broad expertise in gross tissue pathology and microanatomy in support of cutting-edge advances. Skilled in routine tissue sectioning in addition to histochemical and immunohistochemical staining techniques involving traditional laboratory animal models, Ms. Minai has become a technical expert in arthropod tissue processing supporting malaria, leishmaniasis, and tickborne...

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Bianca Nagata, M.S., HTL(ASCP)

Histotechnologist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

M.S., 2015, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, Washington, DC

B.A., 2014, Willamette University, Salem, OR

Languages Spoken: Japanese

Since 2016, Ms. Nagata has provided critical technical support to research studies requiring development, troubleshooting, and optimization of routine and special stains for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and in-situ hybridization on a wide host of animal tissues.

Learn more about Bianca Nagata, M.S., HTL(ASCP)

Former Research Group Members

Ian Moore, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVP (Emory University, Atlanta, GA)

Marlene Orandle, D.V.M., Ph.D. (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA)

Lily Cheng, D.V.M., DACVP, DABT (AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD)

Jerrold Ward, D.V.M., Ph.D, DACVP  (National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD); established the Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section in 2003

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