Dr. Bartz received a Ph.D. in veterinary science from the University of Wisconsin where he focused on interspecies transmission and adaptation of prions to new host species. Dr. Bartz has over 15 years of experience in prion disease research and is currently investigating the biology of prion strains. Specifically, Dr. Bartz is interested in the mechanisms of strain-specific routes of neuroinvasion, prion strain targeting in the central nervous system and prion strain interference. Dr. Bartz has been an advisor to panels of the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.