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INVESTIGATOR: Sordillo, L.; Funk, J.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN 48824

GRADUATE TRAINING OF VETERINARIANS IN ANIMAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Infectious diseases of animals can greatly impact the security of food systems and have significant economic effects within the global economy. The pathogenesis and transmission of infectious agents at the farm level is a significant point of origin for subsequent food safety and public health issues. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of scientists who fully understand the vulnerabilities of the food supply beginning at the farm level and how compromises in animal biosecurity can impact public health. Veterinarians have unique skills sets in comparative medicine that could facilitate the study of animal populations, infectious diseases, and the impact of animal health on the food supply. Therefore, the goal of this proposed integrated doctoral program is to complement expertise in veterinary medicine with rigorous research training in the areas of animal infectious diseases and epidemiology to better address of food safety and biosecurity issues. This program will train two DVMs to address the national targeted expertise shortage area entitled "Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity" within the major academic area of veterinary medicine. Fellows will graduate from this PhD program with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the complexities of how animal infectious diseases intersect with agricultural biosecurity and public health.

OBJECTIVES: The focus of this proposed integrated doctoral training program is to address the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) of Agricultural Biosecurity within the veterinary medicine discipline. The proposal is aimed at filling the critical shortage of veterinarians with rigorous research training in animal health and biosecurity. Infectious diseases of animals can greatly impact the security of food systems and have significant economic effects within the global economy. The pathogenesis and transmission of infectious agents at the farm level is a significant point of origin for subsequent food safety and public health issues. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of scientists who fully understand the vulnerabilities of the food supply beginning at the farm level and how compromises in animal biosecurity can impact public health. Veterinarians have unique skills sets in comparative medicine that could facilitate the study of animal populations, infectious diseases, and the impact of animal health on the food supply. Therefore, the goal of this proposed integrated doctoral program is to complement expertise in veterinary medicine with rigorous basic research training in the areas of animal infectious diseases to better address on farm food safety and biosecurity issues. The proposed National Needs Fellowship (NNF) program will provide veterinarians with new competencies in basic infectious disease research through an integrated program of courses and research experiences in immunology, molecular microbiology, genomics, epidemiology, risk analyses, and food production systems. Fellows will graduate from this training program with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the complexities of how animal infectious diseases intersect with food safety and public health. Trainees will be prepared to enter the workforce and assume leadership roles related animal agriculture biosecurity at academic institutions, government organizations, and corporate settings.