The Animal Health Research Center is a state-of-the-art facility that provides safe and secure conditions for scientists to conduct research on avian flu, West Nile virus, SARS and other diseases that can infect both animals and humans. As concern grows about such diseases, research on them has become increasingly vital to both animal and human health.

The center is part of a national effort to protect against naturally emerging diseases and bioterrorism attacks. Because the center has facilities for investigating diseases affecting both animals and humans, researchers tackle a wide variety of illnesses that are major public health threats in this country and in the rest of the world. Researchers also investigate diseases that may affect food safety and consequently the U.S. economy.

Worth noting: The center is one of the most technologically advanced facilities located on a university campus that is dedicated to studying infectious diseases affecting both animal and human health. The center has the only BSL-3-Ag (biosafety lab-level 3-agricultural) research facility located on a university campus.

Institutions involved: University of Georgia 

Research focus: The Center’s research focus includes:

·        Current and emerging diseases that affect both humans and animals (for example, influenza)

·        Vaccines, diagnostics and treatments for such diseases

·        Vaccines for a variety of species — from horses and cows to mice and birds — as part of the national effort to defend against both bioterrorism attacks and naturally emerging diseases

·         Diagnostic tools that include nanotechnology-based bio-sensing and imaging devices

GRA investment: GRA Eminent Scholar Ralph Tripp helped to launch the center and GRA has invested in unique Biosafety Level-3-Ag laboratories for the center.

Web site: http://www.vet.uga.edu/ahrc/