Creating chickens that can resist harmful avian viruses
Official title: The Building Resistance Against Viral Entities (BRAVE) Innovation Center
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11161842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating chickens that can resist dangerous bird flu viruses, using special technology to change their genes, so they stay healthy and help protect both other animals and people from getting sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $914,937 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008464-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are poultry farmers and stakeholders in the poultry industry who are affected by avian influenza outbreaks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not own or work in the poultry industry or who are not involved in agricultural practices may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing chickens that are genetically modified to resist highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, which have caused severe outbreaks and economic losses in the poultry industry. The project will utilize advanced CRISPR/Cas9 technology to identify and alter specific genes in chickens that are crucial for the replication of these viruses. By targeting these genes, the aim is to create a new breed of chickens that can withstand infections, thereby improving animal health and reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to healthier poultry populations and reduced economic losses in the poultry industry, as well as lower public health risks associated with avian viruses.
How similar studies have gone: While genetic modification in agriculture is a well-explored area, the specific approach of using CRISPR/Cas9 for creating virus-resistant chickens is innovative and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halfmann, Peter Joseph — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Halfmann, Peter Joseph
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.