Japanese Encephalitis Virus Program Six Awards

Epidemiology of JEV in Australian intensive piggeries
PI: Dr. Brendan Cowled, Ausvet Pty Lt

Vector competence and JEV pathogenesis and immunity in domestic pigs
PI: Dr. Angela Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State University

Understanding the threat of wild pigs and mosquitoes for JEV transmission to domestic swine farms
PI: Dr. Daniel Peach, University of Georgia

Building diagnostic capability for Japanese encephalitis virus in the US
PI: Katharine Bossart, Integrated Research Associates, LLC

Development of a pregnant sow model to study the pathogenesis of the emergent Japanese encephalitis virus genotype IV
PI: Dr. Jürgen A. Richt, Kansas State University

Translation of the highly safe, pure & potent IMOJEV® live, attenuated chimeric vaccine against JEV in humans to prevent infection & disease in swine
PI: Thomas Monath; Substipharm Biologics SA

Improving Fiber Hemp Quality Through Enhanced Retting Probiotics & Appropriate Harvest Timing

Hemp growers strive to produce abundant, easily processed plant stems with high quality fibers, but little is known about the connection between harvest time, environment and fiber quality. Researchers led by NC State University are studying the impacts of harvesting time on fiber hemp and developing knowledge and technologies for fiber hemp processing.

Improving Hemp Quality Through Harvest Timing & Enhanced Processing

Addressing On-Farm Bird Flu Outbreaks Linked to Wild Waterfowl

The recent outbreak of H5N1 influenza, commonly called bird flu or avian influenza, originated in the wild bird population and jumped to farms, resulting in the loss of more than 100 million poultry and billions of dollars in the United States. AgriNerds Inc. researchers are identifying outbreak prevention strategies using the WaterFowl Alert Network (WFAN), the world’s first remote sensing tool designed to make daily predictions of where waterfowl roost.

Rapid Response to Novel Resistance-Breaking Strain of Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum in Cultivated Strawberry

Some 90% of the nation’s fresh strawberries are grown in California, but the crop is threatened by the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) fungus, the rapid spread of which could harm both the availability of the popular fruit and growers’ livelihoods. With a ROAR grant, University of California, Davis researchers are conducting research to better understand and quickly combat the pathogen.