Vanessa Matthew-Belmar

Vanessa Matthew-Belmar is a leading expert in clinical and laboratory microbiology, veterinary bacteriology, and molecular biology. She has participated in over 30 published articles in peer-reviewed journals and has extensive experience presenting her work. Her current work includes significant contributions to ongoing research initiatives within the School of Veterinary Medicine at St. George’s University (SGU). She was appointed a Research Scientist at the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF) in 2021.

She completed her reading of a BSc, Life Sciences at SGU (2013). She furthered her education by completing her Master of Science, Bacteriology (2016) and is a current PhD candidate, Virology.

Her primary research and professional interests revolve around the molecular diagnosis of zoonotic infectious diseases, encompassing both viral and bacterial pathogens. Vanessa has a proven track record of conducting research into zoonotic bacteria and emerging bacterial pathogens, analyzing samples from diverse sources including domestic and wildlife animals, as well as humans. She is also highly proficient in the molecular diagnosis of viral pathogens.

Vanessa’s doctoral research focuses on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a zoonotic virus from the Coronavirus genus that caused the 2019 pandemic. Her experience during this critical period includes her integral role on the SGU/WINDREF Testing team for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Her technical proficiencies are broad, covering DNA and RNA extraction from various materials, DNA concentration determination via NANODROP spectrophotometry, PCR, gel electrophoresis, PCR product purification, and Fluorescent Antibody testing (dFA test). These honed proficiencies have assisted her with Rabies molecular diagnostics.