Improve PCR equipment to quickly detect HPAI and new diseases in Minnesota
Official title: Improvement of PCR equipment to respond to HPAI and other emerging diseases at the Minnesota VDL
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11528820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Minnesota veterinary lab is updating its PCR machines to speed and secure testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza and other emerging diseases for animal health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $38,276 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008903-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are farms and veterinary health teams in Minnesota requiring accurate, timely diagnostic testing for poultry diseases and related surveillance.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve direct patient care or human medical testing.
What this research studies
This project upgrades a key diagnostic instrument at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to maintain rapid, reliable testing for poultry diseases. It transitions from an aging real-time PCR system to a newer model to prevent gaps in surveillance and emergency response. The work supports ongoing animal health testing and aligns with national testing protocols to protect animal populations and the food supply. The project is led by Dr. Albert Rovira and is funded through a U18 mechanism over one year.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the upgrade will ensure faster and uninterrupted disease testing, aiding timely response to outbreaks and protecting animal health and agriculture.
How similar studies have gone: Upgrading diagnostic instruments in veterinary labs is a common approach that improves test reliability and turnaround times.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rovira, Albert — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Rovira, Albert
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.