Tick Lab at ODU

08/13/2026

Dr. Sadie Ryan (University of Florida) and Dr. Holly Gaff recently led a 2-day Tick Modeling Workshop in partnership with the Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Disease. They were supported by Dr. Emily Owens Pickle, a former SECVBD-supported trainee now part of the faculty at Old Dominion University.
The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge of different approaches to tick population modeling. Participants had the opportunity to learn about ordinary differential equation models, agent-based models, matrix modeling, and the application of modeling tools (e.g., TICKSIM).

07/30/2026

Read about the work we're conducting in a Chesapeake neighborhood!

07/29/2026

Check out more TickBot updates! We’re thrilled that this public health initiative is being highlighted by local media. Watch the segment to hear from Tick Team members Dr. Holly Gaff, Dr. Emily Owens Pickle, and Darian Dean.
Thank you 13News Now - WVEC for the feature.

A robot on wheels is helping researchers explore a new way to reduce tick exposure while keeping people connected to the outdoors.

07/29/2026

The team recently traveled to Raleigh, NC for the Alpha-gal Syndrome Scientific Meeting. We connected with colleagues to discuss the clinical implications of AGS, patient advocacy, epidemiology and entomology.

07/19/2026

TickBot in the spotlight! Developed by Dr. Holly Gaff and the ODU Tick team, the TickBot is a modified remote-controlled vehicle designed to safely detect and collect ticks in outdoor environments. By combining science and technology, this project helps researchers better understand tick habitats, monitor tick-borne pathogens, and make outdoor spaces safer—one tick at a time.
We are always looking for new places and ways to use the TickBot. To anyone interested in testing it in their backyard, or anyone interested in the business side of commercializing the TickBot, please contact us at [email protected]

Ticks are a growing challenge for homeowners and outdoor enthusiast...

07/13/2026

Congratulations to the Tick Lab’s very own, Christina and Stephanie, for successfully defending their doctoral defenses. Cheers to Dr. Christina Espada and Dr. Stephanie Grizzard!

07/07/2026

Holly got to talk to PBS Newshour and it aired tonight!

It’s summertime, and ticks are out in full force. While in certain...

07/02/2026

There has been a lot of attention on alpha-gal syndrome lately. Holly was quoted in the New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/07/06/the-tick-that-hunts-down-its-hosts-including-us).
The author of that article was then on Fresh Air on NPR today. (https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5877341/lone-star-ticks-are-covering-much-of-the-u-s-heres-what-you-need-to-know)

It's a tick that hunts you down and transmits a potentially dangerous allergy to red meat. The New Yorker writer Burkhard Bilger discusses the lone star tick and the risks of alpha-gal syndrome.

06/12/2026

The ODU Tick Team is working hard to help educate everyone about the lone star tick. Here is a recent interview that Holly had with the French media about alpha gal syndrome and the recent misinformation about that.

The start of tick season in North America is seeing a surge in the ...

05/20/2026

🦟 The Other Blood Feeders 🦟
Ticks are the #1 source of vector-borne diseases in the U.S., but world-wide mosquitos are the most commonly reported nuisance to both humans and animals. Mosquito control in the U.S. is often implemented at a city or county-wide scale to monitor and target affected areas.

The folks at the Suffolk branch of Virginia’s Mosquito Control Association hosted an all day mosquito identification course, and a few of the tick team members were able to attend and learn about more about mosquitos of the mid-atlantic region. 🦟

You can check out their website below to learn more:

https://mosquito-va.org