Boehringer Ingelheim Names Recipients of its PCVAD Research Awards

November 7, 2007 — 

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) has announced the recipients of its annual research award program directed at porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD). The $75,000 PCVAD Research Awards will fund three research studies designed to improve the industry's understanding and management of this devastating disease.

The following 2007 award recipients and their research proposals were recognized Sept. 15 at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minn.:

• John Harding, DVM, associate professor, University of Saskatchewan; a study to determine if immune capacity impacts porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) viral load and disease expression.
• Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, PhD, assistant professor, Iowa State University; a study to determine of the amount of PCV2 needed for intrauterine transmission.
• Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, PhD, assistant professor, Iowa State University; a study to evaluate the effects of PCV2 vaccination on replication of PCV2 in fetuses.

Edgar Diaz, DVM, technical manager for PCVAD at BIVI, says the results of these and previous research studies will add significantly to the industry's scientific knowledge base for PCVAD. "Sound practical research is critical in developing effective on-farm solutions to this devastating disease," Diaz explains. "By partnering with academia, researchers, veterinarians and producers, we can more rapidly and effectively address these challenges."

Numerous PCVAD research proposals were submitted by graduate students, researchers and practicing veterinarians from North America. The proposals were reviewed by an independent review board comprised of Drs. Tom Gillespie, Rensselaer Swine Services and chair of the AASV PCVAD Committee; Kent Schwartz, Iowa State University; Laura Batista, University of Montreal; and Jerry Torrison, University of Minnesota. The proposals were selected based on established criteria: potential for economic impact to the swine industry; originality and scientific quality; and probability of success in completing the one-year study.

Source:
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., Press release
http://www.PCVADresearch.com