The Department of Agriculture Wednesday announced a new partnership between the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will place five scientists in labs in each of the five National Animal Health Laboratory Network regions to enhance the capabilities and capacities of the network. USDA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Rosemary Sifford says, “Our goal is to ensure all network laboratories are poised to combat the threat of transboundary and emerging diseases to protect our nation’s agricultural and food supply systems.”
USDA selected the following laboratories to participate: Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services, Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The scientists will evaluate and develop diagnostics for animal and zoonotic diseases. They will collaborate across the organizations and will be responsible for evaluating local, regional, national, and international threats and ensuring the laboratories have the tools necessary to diagnose emerging threats.
