Location: Operations
Project Number: 3022-32000-013-006-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2020
End Date: Apr 30, 2025
Objective:
Objective 1. Develop the workforce needed to staff NBAF and fulfill the NBAF mission to detect and control foreign animal diseases. Resources will be provided for academic-related expenses and the research projects that will enable the trainees to successfully achieve the academic requirements for obtaining degrees in one of the seven core scientific disciplines: pathology, virology, immunology, entomology, epidemiology, microbiology, and computational biology.
Objective 2. Implement research projects under the direction and guidance of ARS scientists at the Units associated with the NBAF.
Approach:
Initial funding will support interactions between Cooperator and scientists from ARS staffs will be monitors for the individual students’ progression through the training program. In addition, these scientists will be collaborators on the research work. The research work chosen for the training programs must be directly relevant to one of the following Research Projects:
8064-32000-059-00D Ecology of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in North America
8064-32000-060-00D Countermeasures to Control and Eradicate Foreign Animal Diseases of Swine
8064-32000-061-00D Intervention Strategies to Support the Global Control and Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV)
3020-32000-009-00D RVF, Wilson Rift Valley Fever Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Control Measures
3020-32000-010-00D ORBI, Drolet Orbivirus Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Control Measures
3020-32000-013-00D VSV, Drolet Ecology of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in North America
3020-32000-014-00D JEV, Noronha Japanese Encephalitis Virus Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
3020-32000-018-00D ENT, Nayduch Biology and Management of Dipteran Pests of Livestock and Other Animals
The mechanism for training scientists in biodefense research will follow the guidance of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. Depending on their academic level and prior experience, training opportunities will be provided to selected individuals from graduate degree training programs (M.Sc., Ph.D. or postdoctoral). Academic training will be tailored to the specific needs of the candidate and will be arranged by the Cooperator or other qualified, collaborating academic institutions. When necessary, practical training and specific research project activities will be carried out at ARS high containment facilities (BSL-3E, BSL-3Ag) at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Orient Point, New York, and/or the research facilities of collaborators contributing to the implementation of the ARS biodefense research programs. This may include training on BSL-4 large animal facilities in the US or abroad.
