Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica awards PRRS research

At the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting in Denver, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica awarded three PRRS research proposals with US$ 25,000 each.

The proposals were submitted in an annual competition open to graduate students, academic researchers, company or private researchers and practicing veterinarians.

PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) has an enormous impact on swine health, costing the industry an estimated US$ 664 million annually.

The objective of the awards are to xxamine practical methods of controlling, managing, and possibly eradicating the PRRS virus.

This year’s winners are:

Michael Murtaugh of the University of Minnesota, with a proposal to study diagnostics to differentiate vaccine and field virus in PRRS elimination projects,
Brad Leuwerke of the Swine Vet Centre, St Peter Minnesota, on the outcome of PRRS vaccination on growing pigs,
Jeff Zimmerman of Iowa State University, to conduct a study assessing the probabilities of detecting PRRS in pen-based oral fluid samples from low-prevalence populations.

The winning proposals were selected by an independent PRRS research review board.

Once the three winning year-long research projects are completed and submitted for peer review, PRRB will conduct a second evaluation. Upon acceptance for publication of his or her findings, the first place award recipient will receive an additional U.S. $5,000; second place, $3,000; and third place, $1,000.