Southwest National Primate Research Center’s (SNPRC) veterinary team has welcomed Takashi Taguchi, D.V.M., Ph.D. as its newest faculty veterinarian
After completing a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine at Osaka Prefecture University and practicing as small animal clinical veterinarian, Dr. Takashi Taguchi left Japan to start an international adventure that would take him from Kansas to California, then Louisiana to Texas.
Dr. Taguchi joined Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) and Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) as an assistant professor in October 2024. He most recently served as a clinical veterinarian at the New Iberia Research Center in Louisiana where he supported the nonhuman primate breeding and research programs.
He said that nonhuman primate research is one of the most impactful fields in biomedical research.
“I knew very quickly that I wanted to be a part of great work done in this area,” said Dr. Taguchi. “My research focus has been regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Additionally, I am interested in data-driven research that can be applied to large clinical data available at the Institute. I believe there are many opportunities to explore already existing clinical data to help future nonhuman primate medicine.”
Day-to-day, Dr. Taguchi divides his time between working on clinical cases to maintain primate health, overseeing research projects and studying new species.
“I am learning species that I am not so familiar with, such as baboons, by shadowing senior veterinarians,” he said. “There is so much to learn from this experience, and I am really enjoying the training I am receiving.”
For Dr. Taguchi, clinical management of colonies is one of the most fulfilling parts of his role.
“It is very rewarding when our treatments result in better health of animals. My colleagues work tremendously hard and are happy and motivated by seeing animals thriving,” Dr. Taguchi said. “For scientific output, it is most rewarding when we see everyone’s hard work is having a real and significant impact on society. It can be a form of either a publication, seminar, novel therapeutic or personal story.”
He is also motivated by his colleagues, who he describes as “dedicated and compassionate.”
“Everyone I meet at Texas Biomed and SNPRC loves what they do,” Dr. Taguchi said. “They care about the animals so much and they are so friendly, fun and respectful. They make me aspire to be even more passionate about my work.”
Dr. Taguchi is already enjoying his time in San Antonio, spending time in parks, exploring hiking trails and immersing himself in the local culture.
“The most surprising thing I have seen so far in Texas is Buc-ees,” he said. “It is so big and there are always so many people there! The food is good though, so I can see why it’s always so crowded.”
Dr. Taguchi holds a Master of Sciences from Western University of Health Sciences, a Ph.D. from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University, and a Master of Applied Statistics from the College of Agriculture at Louisiana State University.
“I have lived in so many states, Kansas first, California, Louisiana,” he said. “You don’t know where life will take you. I feel very fortunate to have enjoyed all the places I have lived and to have met so many friendly people.”