Breed joins Clemson as attending veterinarian

Experienced veterinarian Matt Breed has joined Clemson University as attending veterinarian and director of the Office of Animal Resources and Godley-Snell Research Center.

Breed has worked the past 10 years at Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. in Bethesda, Maryland, as a senior animal program veterinarian. He has also worked as a staff scientist and clinical veterinarian with National Institutes of Health and has experience with Tulane University, Cornell University, University of Florida and Clemson, where he worked as an Extension/field veterinarian with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health. 

“Matt’s experience in both private and academic settings will be valuable as we continue to enhance our research portfolio. I am confident he will collaborate closely with Clemson faculty, administrators and staff to enrich an already well-respected and accredited animal care program at Clemson,” said Tanju Karanfil, senior vice president for research, scholarship and creative endeavors at Clemson.

Breed is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, an accredited veterinarian by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science, the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners and the Association of Primate Veterinarians.

He earned his Ph.D. from the Tulane University School of Medicine, his veterinary degree from the University of Queensland in Australia and his bachelor’s degree from the University Adelaide, also in Australia.  

“I am thrilled to embark on my journey at Clemson University. I look forward to supporting the crucial research endeavors of Clemson University investigators and upholding the highest standards of animal welfare. I aim to honor Dr. Parrish’s legacy and wish him all the very best in a fulfilling retirement,” Breed said, referring to his predecessor John Parrish.

Parrish is retiring after leading Clemson’s animal welfare programs for nearly 20 years. He joined Clemson in 2006 following a distinguished career in the U.S. Army. Parrish will remain with Clemson as a consulting veterinarian until his official retirement date of April 1.

“I want to thank John for his service to Clemson over the past two decades,” Karanfil said. “John has led Clemson’s animal research programs during a period when our research activity has grown exponentially, and he has done so while maintaining a top-quality, accredited animal research program that has expanded in recent years to accommodate even more activity.”