The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is providing Barnwell Bio Inc. a US$74,133 Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop a waste stream animal health monitoring system to identify the H5N1 virus in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases. Barnwell Bio is providing matching funds for a total investment of US$148,919.
Current H5N1 detection practices rely on animals displaying symptoms and targeted testing of animals suspected of illness. H5N1 can spread quickly, and waiting for observable symptoms, individual examinations and testing leads to significant time lags in fighting its spread. This gap in biosecurity measures allowed H5N1 to spread through cattle unidentified for nearly two months. The rapid spread of H5N1 in cattle across several states demonstrates the need for pre-symptomatic surveillance practices.
Researchers led by Dr. Jake Byrnes, chief scientific officer at Barnwell Bio, are developing a real-time waste stream monitoring system for infectious diseases like H5N1. Continuous surveillance will help detect and identify specific strains of H5N1, providing a more accurate and timely method of monitoring the virus. This proactive disease management will help improve animal welfare and reduce the economic impact of outbreaks.
“H5N1 has been a top-of-mind concern for animal health practitioners across the country,” said Jake Byrnes, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Barnwell Bio. “Our stakeholders have a palpable sense of anxiety, not knowing about the arrival of this virus on their farms until it’s too late. We are eager to tackle this problem head on with FFAR’s support, and to better understand the spread and evolution of H5N1.”
FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the U.S. food supply or agricultural systems.
