Thursday, August 22, 2024
CEEZAD celebrates 20th anniversary of DHS Center of Excellence program
The Kansas State University-based Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) joins the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Centers of Excellence program.
CEEZAD at Kansas State University was one of the early Centers of Excellence created with funding support from DHS under the leadership of Dr. Juergen A. Richt. He has been CEEZAD’s director since its inception in 2010.
As a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, CEEZAD researchers have taken seriously their mission to protect the nation’s agriculture and public health sectors against high-consequence foreign animal, emerging, and/or zoonotic disease threats. CEEZAD research, technological development and training have all been directed toward this purpose.
One of the most important challenges taken on by CEEZAD researchers has involved enhancing the ability of the scientific community to counteract the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. CEEZAD research has increased scientific understanding of how the virus replicates, how it spreads, its lifespan on various surfaces, and the susceptibility of various animal species including insects. CEEZAD scientists have published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles detailing their research findings on SARS-CoV-2.
Beyond that, CEEZAD has developed substantial expertise to research and development of detection and countermeasure technologies for Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Avian Influenza (AI), African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and other high-priority diseases In this context, CEEZAD has developed novel vaccine candidates and diagnostic technologies supporting the Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) concept, and it has aggressively pursued integrated programs to train the next generation of foreign animal, emerging, and zoonotic disease professionals.
“Recognizing the substantial threat posed by high-consequence disease threats, CEEZAD has dedicated substantial effort to advancing scientific knowledge for some of the most important threats posed by these pathogens,” remarked Dr. Richt. He said that the DHS support received by CEEZAD through its status as a DHS Center of Excellence and Emeritus Center was vital in accomplishing all of these goals which ultimately protect U.S, agricultural systems and public health even during a national health crisis.
You can learn more about CEEZAD’s work at www.ceezad.org.