Grant to Fund Research by MSI PIs Into PRRS Virus

The College of Veterinary Medicine has received a grant of nearly $3M to fund a project to study how porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus evolves and spreads. PRRS costs the swine industry millions each year. This project is a collaboration between the U of M and at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute. A story about the grant can be found on the college website: New $3 Million Grant Helps Researchers Tackle Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.

Three MSI PIs are involved in this grant:

• Kimberly VanderWaal (assistant professor, Veterinary Population Medicine) is the principal investigator for the project. Professor VanderWaal uses MSI resources to model the spread of animal diseases using animal-movement databases, and for big-data approaches to advancing animal health.
• Cesar Corzo (associate professor, Veterinary Population Medicine) coordinates the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP), which will provide data for this project. Professor Corzo uses MSI for sequencing studies using MSHMP data.
• Declan Schroeder (associate professor, Veterinary Population Medicine) has developed a technique to describe the genomic profile of a strain of PRRS virus within 24 hours of sampling. Professor Schroeder uses MSI for studies into several viruses affecting livestock, fish, and honeybees.