NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Universities and research centers in 15 states will receive a total of $11 million from the US Department of Agriculture for livestock genomics research projects and the development of technologies under a Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service program.
USDA said today that the money will support research, education, and outreach in animal genomics that will protect livestock and make the food supply safer. These studies will generate knowledge that will "reduce the number and severity of animal disease outbreaks and decrease dependence on the widespread use of antibiotics," USDA said in a statement.
The funding has been awarded under the CSREES' National Research Initiative Animal Genome Program.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement that in order to "remain globally competitive in the livestock business and to continue to produce safe, nutritious products from livestock requires the application of cutting-edge genetics and breeding programs. Investing in good basic and applied research will help pinpoint genetic differences that result in superior animal products of the best quality for the consumer."
Some of the funds will be used to train new researchers by supporting 25 post-doctoral fellows and 15 graduate students.
The complete list of recipients and the amount of funding they are receiving includes: Auburn University, $725,000; University of California, Davis, $550,000; University of California, Davis, $10,000; University of Southern California, $711,884; University of Delaware, $125,000; University of Georgia, $449,575; Iowa State University, $10,000; Iowa State University, $909,439; Iowa State University, $749,345; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, $449,421; USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS)/Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Md., $625,000; University of Maryland, $906,098; USDA, ARS/Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL), Mich., $875,000; USDA, ARS/ADOL, $448,552; University of Minnesota, $549,999; University of Minnesota, $447,633; University of Missouri, $125,000; Texas A&M University, $313,516; Texas A&M University, $125,000; Utah State University, $629,471; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, $585,613; Washington State University, $450,000; University of Wisconsin, Madison, $10,000; and University of Wisconsin, Madison, $401,651.