$800,000 USDA Grant to Create Integrative Data Platform for Major Swine Diseases

Sep 18, 2023

A team of University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine researchers led by Kimberly VanderWaal was recently awarded a 4-year, $800,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The study aims to create an “integrative data science” platform to predict the ability of PRRSV-2 variants to provoke an immune response and spread across farms. The platform will use interconnected machine learning tools from structural biology, computational immunology, and genomic epidemiology.

The circulation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-type 2 (PRRSV-2) is a primary constraint to swine health and production. PRRSV-2 is a rapidly evolving RNA virus impacting roughly 30–50% of breeding farms. With an economic burden of over $600 million in the U.S. alone, PRRSV-2 is the most important endemic disease to the U.S. swine industry.

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Video: Genetics vs Genomics in Swine - Dr. Max Rothschild

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Max Rothschild, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, explains how genetics and genomics have transformed swine production. He explores genomic selection, key gene discoveries, and the role of gene editing in improving disease resistance and productivity. Practical insights on litter size, meat quality, and industry adoption are also discussed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetic improvement in swine production accelerated significantly once molecular tools enabled identification of DNA level variation influencing growth, reproduction, and meat quality across commercial populations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Max Rothschild / max-f-rothschild-b3800312 earned his PhD in Animal Breeding from Cornell University and has spent over four decades at Iowa State University advancing swine genetics and genomics. His research focuses on genetic improvement, disease resistance, and molecular tools for swine production. A leader in pig genome research, his work has shaped modern breeding strategies.