Animal Health and Disease Research

 

The purpose of this funding is to increase animal health and disease research activities at accredited State veterinary schools or colleges or agricultural experiment stations that conduct animal health and disease research. To support animal health and disease research at eligible Schools and Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, and State Agricultural Experiment Stations whose purpose is to improve the health and productivity of food animals and horses through effective prevention, control or treatment of disease, reduction of losses from transportation and other hazards, and protect human health through control of animal diseases transmissible to people.

Active 10.207 National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2016 For FY 2016, more than 100 Capacity block grants will be awarded, totaling $3,706,320. Determination which is based upon a formula compiled by the Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM). The formula is authorized by Congress. Awards were made to 67 eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and US Veterinary Colleges). The funds were used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states. Sixty-seven Capacity block grants, for a total of $3,706,320, as determined by the legislatively mandated formula and computed by the Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM), were awarded to 67 eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and U.S. Veterinary Colleges). These funds were used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states.
Fiscal Year 2017 Sixty-seven Capacity block grants, for a total of $3,696,260, as determined by an OGFM formula, were awarded to 67 eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and US Veterinary Colleges). These funds were used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states. The University of Alaska’s Agriculture Experiment Station opted out this year and this was the first year of participation for the new Veterinary School at Lincoln Memorial University (Tennessee).
Fiscal Year 2018 For Fiscal Year 2018, the appropriated amount was $4 million. Sixty-seven Capacity block grants, for a total of $3,717,120, as determined by an OGFM formula, were awarded to 67 eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and US Veterinary Colleges). These funds were used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states. The University of Alaska’s Agriculture Experiment Station and Cornell University’s State Experiment Station opted out this year and this was the first year of participation for the new Veterinary School at Midwestern University in Arizona.
Fiscal Year 2019 For Fiscal Year 2019, the appropriated amount was $4 million. In accordance with financial data provided by the Budget Office, approximately $3,717,120 is available for this Program. Sixty-seven Capacity block grants will be awarded to eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and US Veterinary Colleges). These funds were used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states. Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, is a new Veterinary School joining the group this year. The SAES at University of Alaska (Fairbanks) and Cornell University (Ithaca) opted-out of the program this year.
Fiscal Year 2024 Sixty-seven Capacity block grants will be awarded to eligible State entities (all Agricultural Experiment Stations and US Veterinary Colleges). These funds will be used at the discretion of authorized Deans and Directors to address local, regional or national agricultural animal health and disease research priorities of their respective states. National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, Section 1433, Public Law 95-113, as amended; Section 1429, Public Law 97-98; Public Law 99-198; Public Law 101-624; Public Law 104-127; Public Law 105-185., 7 U.S.C. 3195 Please refer to the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available as follows: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resources/FY2022%20Animal%20Health%20and%20Disease%20Research%20Program%20Capacity%20RFA%20508.pdf Eligibility is restricted to the following public nonprofit institutions having demonstrable capacity in animal disease research: (1) Schools and Colleges of Veterinary Medicine; and (2) State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Funds are appropriated by Congress for distribution to States and eligible State institutions according to the statutory formula stated in the Act. The System for Award Management (SAM) combines eight federal procurement systems, including CCR, and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. CCR activities are conducted through SAM (the CCR website will redirect users to SAM). Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)Number and System for Award Management (SAM): Each applicant (unless excepted under 2 CFR ? 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR ? 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid UEI number in its application; and (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. It also must state that the Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicants must furnish the information required in the Request for Applications (RFAs). Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process. These include, but are not limited to the following: Organizational Management Information - Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one time basis, with updates on an as needed basis, as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of a grant identified under this RFA, if such information has not been provided previously under this or another NIFA program. NIFA will provide copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements as part of the preaward process. Although an applicant may be eligible based on its status as one of these entities, there are factors which may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual involved or a determination that an applicant is not responsible based on submitted organizational management information). This information collection is approved under OMB Circular Control No. 0524-0026, "Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights, Compliance and Organization Information." SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available as follows: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resources/FY2022%20Animal%20Health%20and%20Disease%20Research%20Program%20Capacity%20RFA%20508.pdfRFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. All Request for Applications (RFAs) are published on the Agency’s website and Grants.gov. Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. Application packages complement, rather than duplicate, the information collected via the Plan of Work (POW) system and the Research, Extension, and Education Project Online Reporting Tool (REEport), and together satisfy all legislative and regulatory pre-award requirements. Please see the following NIFA Agency link for more information: http://nifa.usda.gov/program/animal-health-research-and-disease-program 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications should be submitted as outlined in the RFA. Applicants must follow the instructions provided per Grants.gov. Application packages complement, rather than duplicate, the information collected via the Plan of Work (POW) system and the Research, Extension, and Education Project Online Reporting Tool (REEport), and together satisfy all legislative and regulatory pre-award requirements. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) only accepts electronic applications which are submitted via Grants.gov in response to specific Requests for Applications (RFA). Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. For information about the pre-award phase of the grant lifecycle application processes see: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html. Funds will be released on a quarterly basis to the institutions. See Appendix A of the Request for Application (RFA) for the specific allocation. AHDR funds must be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; no waiver requests may be considered and approved as no carryover authority is provided in the authorizing legislation. 2 CFR Part 200 - Subpart C and Appendix I apply to this program. 2 CFR Part 400 applies to this program. Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. From 30 to 60 days. From 30 to 60 days. Contact the National Program Leader (NPL), as indicated per CFDA Section # 152 - Headquarters Office regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time. Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA's respective links regarding general information are provided below: http://nifa.usda.gov/ http://www.grants.gov. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFA is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resources/FY2022%20Animal%20Health%20and%20Disease%20Research%20Program%20Capacity%20RFA%20508.pdfRFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive RFAs superse Not applicable. Not applicable. 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and 2 CFR part 400 USDA's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFAs are available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resources/FY2022%20Animal%20Health%20and%20Disease%20Research%20Program%20Capacity%20RFA%20508.pdf The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the FY 2009 formula grants authorized under authorized under section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) for the Animal Health and Disease Research (AHDR) Program. These grants are used to assist all states in carrying out a program of research activities designed to: (1) to meet expenses of conducting animal health and disease research, publishing and disseminating the results of such research, and contributing to the retirement of employees subject to the provisions of the Act of March 4, 1940 (54 Stat. 39–40, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 331); (2) for administrative planning and direction; and (3) to purchase equipment and supplies necessary for conducting such research. States are eligible for funds appropriated under this Act according to the following formula: One half of the State allotment will be distributed among the States in the proportion that the value of and income to producers from domestic livestock, poultry, and commercial aquaculture species in each State bears to the total value of and income to producers from domestic livestock, poultry, and commercial aquaculture species in all the States, based on the most current inventory of all cattle, sheep, swine, horses, poultry, and commercial aquaculture species published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The remainder of the State allotment will be distributed among the States in the proportion that the animal health and disease research capacity of the eligible institutions in each State bears to the total animal health and disease research capacity in all the States, as determined by NIFA. Uses: Research on animal health and disease of food animals and horses conducted in eligible institutions under the following categories: (1) Infectious diseases; (2) internal and external parasites; (3) noninfectious diseases, toxins, poisons, transportation losses, predators and other hazards; (4) diseases and parasites of wildlife transmissible to food animals and horses; and (5) diseases and parasites of animals transmissible to people. Performance Reports: (Pertinent details regarding Performance Monitoring Reports are provided above.) This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Relation to other audit requirements, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO). This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. In accordance with 2 CFR Part 400 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, ? 200.334 Retention requirements for records. Grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three (3) year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D applies to this program. Statutory Formula: Title Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 Public Law 95-113 Food and Agriculture Act of 1977

Matching is mandatory. 7 U.S.C. 3200 provides that “No funds in excess of $100,000 … shall be paid by the Federal Government to any State under this subchapter during any fiscal year in excess of the amount from non-Federal sources made available to and budgeted for expenditure by eligible institutions in the State during the same fiscal year for animal health and disease research. The Secretary is authorized to make such payments in excess of $100,000 on the certificate of the appropriate official of the eligible institution having charge of the animal health and disease research for which such payments are to be made. If any eligible institution certified for receipt of matching funds fails to make available and budget for expenditure for animal health and disease research in any fiscal year sums at least equal to the amount for which it is certified, the difference between the Federal matching funds available and the funds made available to and budgeted for expenditure by the eligible institution shall be reapportioned by the Secretary among other eligible institutions of the same State, if there are any which qualify therefore, and, if there are none, the Secretary shall reapportion such difference among the other States.”

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. AHDR funds must be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; no waiver requests may be considered and approved as no carryover authority is provided in the authorizing legislation. 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D applies to this program. AHDR funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; however, funds may be carried over for up to one (1) additional year. Please note that there is no limitation on the amount of federal funds that may be carried over for this one (1) additional fiscal year. No prior approval from NIFA is required. Since this limitation is legislatively mandated, NIFA is not authorized to grant any carry-over requests beyond this one (1) additional year. Further details are provided in the Award document Form NIFA-2009 and the NIFA General Terms and Conditions Grants and Cooperative Agreements (dated October 2016) at: https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-general-terms-and-conditions-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-october-2016. SPECIA NIFA utilizes the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system that allows federal agencies to administer funds. Currently, ASAP is the only payment source for new NIFA grantees. National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205 Courier/Package Delivery Address: 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061 USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader,
Institute of Food Production and Sustainability, Division of Animal Systems,P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205
Courier/Package Delivery Address:
2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061
Kansas City, MO 64141 US
capacitygrantquestions@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 445-3468 http://nifa.usda.gov/program/animal-health-research-and-disease-program 12-1500-0-1-352 (Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 22$3,717,120.00; FY 23 est $3,717,120.00; FY 24 est $3,665,820.00; FY 21$3,717,120.00; FY 20$3,717,120.00; FY 19$3,717,120.00; FY 18$3,717,120.00; FY 17$3,696,260.00; FY 16$3,706,320.00; - The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislative authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years. If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive project grant, or cooperative agreement are established, these amounts will be announced in the annual Capacity, Competitive, and/or Non-Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFA is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resources/FY2022%20Animal%20Health%20and%20Disease%20Research%20Program%20Capacity%20RFA%20508.pdf As an administrator of U.S. government support, NIFA works in partnership with grantees to ensure responsible stewardship of federal funds. Our grantees and partners are required to comply with all relevant rules and regulations. The following resources are provided to NIFA's partners and award recipients to support their adherence to federal regulations governing program performance: NIFA's primary (main) website: https://nifa.usda.gov/regulations-and-guidelines The following represent specific documents and direct links: POLICY GUIDE NIFA's Federal Assistance Policy Guide describes agency policies and procedures. https://nifa.usda.gov/policy-guide CERTIFICATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS Certifications and representations provided through the NIFA application process. https://nifa.usda.gov/certifications-and-representations ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF USDA SUPPORT BY NIFA When acknowledging USDA support in accordance with 2 CFR Part 415, grantees must use the following acknowledgement for all projects or initiatives supported by NIFA. https://nifa.usda.gov/acknowledgment-usda-support-nifa FEDERAL REGULATIONS The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists all regulations published in the Federal Register. https://nifa.usda.gov/federal-regulations FOIA The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides that any person has the right to request access to federal documents and information such as research data. https://nifa.usda.gov/foia NEPA POLICY AND GUIDANCE The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Policy and Guidance set the standard for identifying potential environmental impacts. https://nifa.usda.gov/nepa-policy-and-guidance OGFM ISSUED CORRESPONDENCE The Office of Grants and Financial Management occasionally issues correspondence to applicants, grantees, and/or the general public for informational or clarification purposes. https://nifa.usda.gov/ogfm-issued-correspondence RESEARCH MISCONDUCT NIFA requires that all its awardees adhere to the USDA Scientific Integrity Policy and the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct. https://nifa.usda.gov/research-misconduct NIFA'S GENERAL AWARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS Award terms and conditions are determined by statutory, regulatory, and agency requirements, as well as each grant's circumstances. Terms and conditions dictate important items related to your grant, including method of payment, reporting frequency and content, and prior approval requirements. References to the terms and conditions of awards are located on the NIFA 2009 Award Fact Sheet. NIFA's general award terms and conditions (see link below) is applicable to this program, for awards with an award date on December 26, 2014 and thereafter. https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-general-terms-and-conditions-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-october-2016. Fiscal Year 2016 For FY 2016, actual data is not yet available. However, it is anticipated that numerous smaller projects (less than $30,000 each) will again be during this year. Because so many smaller studies will be supported annually, some aspect of each of the topic areas listed below are generally represented in one or more projects each program year. In accordance with the legal authority for this program, all of the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: (1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and (2) to protect animal health by minimizing disease transmission through improved basic and applied mechanisms to prevent and control disease in livestock (i.e., vaccinology, improved diagnostic testing and capabilities, and improved herd and flock management) Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. . Forty percent (48%) of the awards were less than $30,000 each. Because so many smaller studies are supported annually, some aspect of each of the topic areas listed below are generally represented in one (1) or more projects each program year. In accordance with the legal authority for this program, all of the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: (1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and (2) to protect animal health by minimizing disease transmission through improved basic and applied mechanisms to prevent and control disease in livestock (i.e., vaccinology, improved diagnostic testing and capabilities, and improved herd and flock management).
Fiscal Year 2017 Forty-two percent (42%) of the institutional awards were less than $30,000 each. Because so many smaller studies will be supported annually, some aspect of each of the topic areas listed below are generally represented in one (1) or more projects each program year. In accordance with the legal authority for this program, all of the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: (1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and Fiscal Year (FY) 2017: Forty-two percent (42%) of the institutional awards were less than $30,000 each. Because so many smaller studies will be supported annually, some aspect of each of the topic areas listed below are generally represented in one (1) or more projects each program year. In accordance with the legal authority for this program, all of the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: (1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and (2) to protect animal health by minimizing disease transmission through improved basic and applied mechanisms to prevent and control disease in livestock (i.e., vaccinology, improved diagnostic testing and capabilities, and improved herd and flock management). Example of funded Research in Swine – NOVEL PORCINE EPIDEMIC DIARRHEA VIRUS VACCINE PIPELINE Recent emergence of extremely contagious Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) with 80-100% mortality in neonate pigs calls for the development of an effective prophylactic vaccine. PED has been such an important disease that it brought attention to the NIFA Animal Health and Disease priority area (A1221). In this seed grant proposal, we propose to develop an effective novel vaccine candidate against PEDV infection. We will produce a ferritin nanoparticle immunogen coated with PEDV's spike (S) glycoprotein to induce neutralizing antibodies. We will formulate this novel nanoparticle into a Newcastle virus (NDV) vector with mucosal tropism derived from an attenuated vaccine strain LaSota. The NDV vector is effective in inducing protective immunity at both the mucosal and systemic levels and it has been extensively used to express various antigens of important viral diseases including the full-length spike glycoprotein of SARS coronavirus. Resultant vector vaccines have shown safe and protective efficacies in different animal models, and NDV vector replication in eggs is amenable to large scale and rapid production. We hypothesize that the nanoparticle vaccine delivered by NDV vector mimic native viruses, which in turn elicit high titer neutralizing antibody responses and provide protection against PEDV infection in pigs. We propose to employ a pregnant sow model to test this hypothesis. Sow model is of clinical relevance because successful vaccination of sows is likely to play an important role in the control and eradication of PED epidemics in piglets. Example of funded research in Feeder Cattle – ALTERING THE TIME OF VACCINATION AGAINST RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS TO ENHANCE VACCINE EFFICACY, HEALTH, AND PERFORMANCE OF FEEDER CATTLE The focus of this research project is to compare the effects of anticipated (15 days prior), delayed (15 days after), or vaccination at the time of weaning and feedlot entry on vaccine efficacy, health, and performance variables of feeder cattle. Example of funded research in Dairy Cattle – ENHANCING DISEASE RESISTANCE IN DAIRY CATTLE The long term goal of this project is to reduce the use of antimicrobials in dairy cattle by providing new methods to optimize innate immunity through nutritional and/or targeted pharmacological approaches during time of increased susceptibility to disease. Many dairy cattle diseases during the early lactation period can result from dysfunctional inflammatory responses that are characterized by an imbalance of the robust initial response needed for pathogen clearance and the prompt return to immune homeostasis. The initiation and resolution of the inflammatory response is regulated by the production of potent lipid mediators. The potential benefits of reducing inflammatory-based diseases of early lactation dairy cattle through modification of lipid metabolism has not been explored in depth. Therefore, the immediate goals of this project are to not only identify how lipid mediator biosynthesis changes during the transition period and during disease, but also the potential impact that lipid metabolism has on macrophage inflammatory functions. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to: (1) describe changes in lipid mediator biosynthesis during the transition period; (2) describe changes in lipid mediator biosynthesis during mastitis; and (3) determine the underlying mechanisms of how lipid mediators can impact macrophage inflammatory functions. Example of funded research in Poultry – SAFE AND COST-EFFECTIVE NEXT GENERATION VACCINES AGAINST INFECTIOUS VIRUSES USING ESTABLISHED IMMORTAL AVIAN CELL LINES The goal of this proposal is to improve animal health by developing an optimal system for the production of infectious vaccine viruses of genetically engineered-, non-reversible and live attenuated vaccines using established immortal avian cell lines. The specific objectives are to: (1) attenuate virulent and vaccine virus strains using immortal avian cell lines; (2) develop a new reverse genetics system retaining the complete full length sequence of viral RNA genome of vaccine strain using a novel artificial bacterial chromosome (BAC) vector and immortal avian cell line substrates to produce vaccine candidates; (3) compare commercial vaccines with the newly generated vaccines in this project in terms of immunogenic activity and protective efficacy; and (4) produce a large quantity of optimally infectious vaccine strains for the use of vaccination in commercial setting. Example of funded research in sheep – ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS AND PREGNANCY HEALTH IN SHEEP The overall objective of this proposal is to define the molecular mechanisms whereby bisphenolic compounds (BPA, and BPA replacement chemicals) with estrogenic potential can induce placental dysfunction during pregnancy. Studies described in this proposal will test a novel hypothesis to assess the disease risk of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during pregnancy in a relevant agricultural species, such as the sheep. Objectives: (1) to test if gestational exposure to BPA or BPA replacement compounds leads to a disruption in the maternal endocrine milieu and fetal growth in sheep; (2) to test if gestational exposure to BPA or BPA replacement compounds leads to a disruption in placental function; and (3) to test if exposure to BPA or BPA replacement compounds impairs placental steroidogenic potential.
Fiscal Year 2018 The average award was $55,168, with a range of $744 to $268,765. In accordance with the legal authority for this program, the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: 1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and 2) to protect animal health by minimizing disease transmission through improved basic and applied mechanisms to prevent and control disease in livestock (i.e., vaccinology, improved diagnostic testing and capabilities, and improved herd and flock management). North Dakota State University (ACCESSION NO: 1012991; October 2017 – September 2022) Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and swine influenza virus are two important viral pathogens impacting the productivity of the swine industry. Researchers at North Dakota State University developed a proprietary process for the development of safe and efficacious rapid-response vaccines against RNA viruses, such as PEDV, that tested very successfully in 3-week-old piglets. The process is a hybrid between inactivated and attenuated vaccines so that the safety and efficacy advantages are combined. Data generated from the capacity funded work was instrumental in receiving a subsequent USDA -NIFA AFRI competitive grant to test the rapid-response vaccine in a pregnant sow model. The same process is now being used to test a new influenza vaccine in swine. PEDV diagnostics using virus neutralization assays and virus quantification assays up until now have been tedious and time consuming to perform and can be subjective in interpretation when plates are assessed visually by operators. For that reason, a convenient colorimetric assay using a digital output from an ELISA reader was developed. The newly developed assay by North Dakota State University will help reduce labor and testing time in diagnostic laboratories across the US. University of Nebraska (ACCESSION NO: 1002196; December 2013 – September 2018) Some of the highest economic costs in beef cattle production include bovine respiratory disease (BRD) where costs exceed over $1 billion dollars due to loss of production, labor drug costs, and mortality, with treatment costs estimated at between $40-$291 per calf. Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), or pinkeye, costs exceed the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The pathogens associated with these diseases can be rapidly disseminated due to animal movements from remote pastures, through sale barns and other transportation channels where animals from multiple sources are commingled. This can result in transfer of strains of bacteria or bacterial genes that promote virulence or can confer resistance to antibiotics used to treat these infections. Therefore, rapid identification of bacteria and understanding of transmission dynamics through enhanced and rapid diagnostic tools is critical to ensure timely treatment and prevention strategies can be applied. Researchers at the University of Nebraska developed and validated a real-time PCR protocol to facilitate rapid identification of bacterial pathogens in cattle that can achieve results in hours instead of days in multiple diagnostic matrices. Additionally, novel testing methods that enable rapid typing of these bacterial pathogens using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were developed and published that provide a tool to assist diagnosticians and veterinarians discriminate between potential pathogenic bacteria and commensal colonizers. Additionally, whole closed genome sequences of known pathogenic phenotypes (M. bovis Epp63 and 246 Moraxella bovoculi) were completed and published to enable understanding of genetic factors on pathogenicity. Understanding the composition of circulating pathogens and their potential relatedness will enable prudent treatment and antimicrobial usage, enhance rationale design of vaccines and other preventive measures, and provide insight into transmission dynamics of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance through surveillance of pathogens.
Fiscal Year 2019 Total funding remained the same this year as for FY 2018, however, due to problems with the validation of the formula funding the actual 2019 disbursement has yet to be published by the Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM). Approved projects for this year fall in line with those reported for 2018.
Fiscal Year 2024 The projects will be conducted in accordance with the legal authority for this program, all of the following project topic areas relate directly toward the enhancement of animal health through the support of research activities related to: 1) reducing the incidence of food-borne illness and to provide a safer food supply; and 2) to protect animal health by minimizing disease transmission through improved basic and applied mechanisms to prevent and control disease in livestock (i.e., vaccinology, improved diagnostic testing and capabilities, and improved herd and flock management).