Even after spending years as an avid Animal Planet viewer, Erika McAfee, MLAS, D.V.M., had no idea she would end up being inspired to work with primates in biomedical research.
“I always enjoyed biology and animal science, but I started out thinking I wanted to do human orthopedic medicine. After completing a human medical program, I realized it wasn’t for me,” says Dr. McAfee. “I decided I really wanted to work with primates, and throughout my clinical years in vet school, I focused as much as possible on primate medicine.”
Following a three-week externship at Texas Biomed earlier in 2024, Dr. McAfee officially joined the team as Faculty Veterinarian in August.
Prior to her time at Texas Biomed, Dr. McAfee served as a postdoctoral fellow and laboratory animal medicine veterinary resident at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, CA. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Laboratory Animal Science from Drexel College of Medicine, and a Bachelor of Science from Spelman College.
Dr. McAfee says that people are intrigued when they hear that she works with primates.
“Everyone assumes that because I’m a veterinarian I work with cats and dogs. The fact that I work with primates is really interesting for a lot of people and I get a chance to educate them about how much care and enrichment our animals receive,” she says.
During her time as a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. McAfee was part of the team that worked on developing the one of the first FDA-approved treatments for a rare genetic disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, in which bone gradually replaces muscle and connective tissue.
“The work was very rewarding, but human medical research isn’t where I’m supposed to be,” says Dr. McAfee. “I am very interested in translational medicine, which is what drew me to working with primates.”
Translational science aims to improve the process of turning research into health solutions, primarily with the help of animal models. These models allow researchers to study disease mechanisms and evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential treatments prior to advancing to studies in humans.
Dr. McAfee, who completed her residency training at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, estimates that 95% of her clinical case management was focused on marmosets. Texas Biomed is home to the largest colony of marmosets dedicated to aging and infectious diseases research in the nation.
“Coming to Texas Biomed, I’ve been excited to work with vastly different species, especially the baboons, which I am looking forward to getting to know better,” she says.
Texas Biomed’s Attending Veterinarian Kathryn Shelton, D.V.M., Ph.D., says, “Dr. McAfee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Texas Biomed. Her expertise and dedication to veterinary medicine will be invaluable to our institution and we are excited to have her on board and look forward to her contributions.”