The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has announced the creation of four Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers (AVICs), which will receive funding to advance regulatory science and foster the development of innovative products and strategies to enhance animal health and veterinary care.
These centers align with the objectives of the FDA’s Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda (AVIA), aimed at driving innovation to improve both human and animal health. The following are the recipients of funding:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, for research to explore the development of genome-edited chickens to reduce susceptibility or provide resistance to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other avian viruses by genetically targeting pro-viral host factors, antiviral proteins, or viral genes.
- University of California (UC)-Davis, for work on intentional genomic alterations (IGAs) in major livestock species to advance the use of gene editing technologies in food animals, while generating and sharing both phenotypic and bioinformatic data to support a science-based approach to the regulation of IGAs in food animals.
- Kansas State University, for work to develop models which reliably and consistently evaluate the efficacy of analgesics in food animals in support of new drug approvals. This work supports pain relief in pigs, goats and cattle for painful diseases or surgical pain.
- University of Arkansas, for work to determine the infectivity and formation of cyst-like Histomonas meleagridis (the causative agent of blackhead disease in turkeys) in vitro and in vivo; identify the cellular pathways mediating encystation in meleagridis; and screen and assess potent inhibitors against encystation of H. meleagridis in vitro and in vivo.
AVICs were selected through a competitive process to address key animal, human, or environmental health needs in priority areas, according to the FDA. For more information, visit the FDA website.