Thomas Hansen

Dr. Thomas R. (Tod) Hansen is the Mabel I. and Henry H. Traubert Professor of Animal Genetics in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on: 1) study of early embryo-maternal signaling with intent to reduce embryo mortality (i.e., miscarriage); 2) discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with fertility as a tool for genetically selecting cattle with increased pregnancy rates; and 3) understanding how maternal viral infections impair development of the fetus and the fetal immune system, leading to compromised post-natal immune responses to secondary infections. His research has been funded by the NIH-NICHD, NIH-INBRE, USDA-NIFA, American Cancer Society and biotechnology/biopharma companies. He teaches Human and Animal Reproductive Biology to undergraduate and graduate Biomedical Sciences students. He also serves as Director of the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory (ARBL), which includes the Equine Reproduction Laboratory as a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence at Colorado State University (CSU). The ARBL PRSE seeks to excel through discovery, translation and dissemination of knowledge in reproductive sciences and biotechnologies at local, national and international levels. We approach this mission through ensuring the health and welfare of animal and human populations and setting high standards and values, such as demonstrating inclusiveness and diversity, encouraging and rewarding innovation, acting with integrity and mutual respect and supporting excellence in teaching, research, service and outreach. Overall for the ARBL include: 1. Increasing research funding through more interdisciplinary collaborations and the exploration of new revenue sources such as private donations and industry. 2. Growing and stabilizing graduate student education. Further develop existing federal and other funding mechanisms for Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) support; and integrate and support the MS Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) graduate program, while continuing to succeed in MS-Thesis and PhD graduate programs. 4. Exploring all ARBL/ERL internal and external services and identifying opportunities to increase visibility, revenue and quality of services. 5. Supporting a culture that fosters accountability, collaboration, team, transparency, equity, inclusion and diversity that feeds in positively to departmental missions in BMS, CS, MIP and ANSC-ES.