Through the Growing Research and New Technology for Swine (GRANTS) program, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, three research proposals have each been awarded $35,000 in funding. Following the program’s expansion from the Awards for Advancing Research in Respiratory Disease (AWARRD) in early 2022, GRANTS funds field-applicable research into swine health and production, from respiratory, reproductive and enteric diseases to new technologies, diagnostics and overall approaches to supporting pig health and performance.

The Swine Research and Technology Review Board, consisting of five independent swine veterinarians and researchers, reviewed several exceptional proposals before making its final decision. This year’s recipients, which were announced at the 2022 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, are focused on research related to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp).

Boehringer Ingelheim congratulates the following 2022 GRANTS recipients:

• Marianna Kikuti, DVM, MPH, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Characterizing within farm PRRSV evolution and clinical re-breaks with the newly emerged L1C 144 variant in positive unstable breeding herds
• Kimberly Crawford, DVM, MS and Ryan Saltzman, DVM, AMVC/VRI, Ames, Iowa
  • Efficacy of ivermectin administration to weaned pigs prior to virulent PRRSV 1-4-4 1c challenge
• Rachel J Derscheid, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
  • Development of viability qPCR assay for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to improve gilt acclimation and elimination programs

“The GRANTS program has always been about advancing knowledge and field-applicable approaches to disease control within the swine industry,” said Reid Philips, DVM, Senior Technical Manager for PRRS at Boehringer Ingelheim. “This year, we are funding three research projects that will undoubtedly help the industry battle against new strains of PRRS and continue to help forge a path for Mhp elimination.”

Throughout the last 20 years, across multiple evolutions of this program, Boehringer Ingelheim has provided more than $1.5 million in support of the development of less costly, innovative diagnostic testing and sampling processes; identified more effective biosecurity practices; helped the industry better understand key diseases; and developed risk assessment tools, intervention programs and vaccination strategies.

“The research projects funded by Boehringer Ingelheim GRANTS program have been instrumental in improving the industry’s understanding of swine diseases,” said Daryl Olsen, DVM, a Swine Research and Technology Board member and senior partner at AMVC Management Services. “This program will continue to be important for producers’ success and profitability as we face new challenges and opportunities in pork production.”

For more information on how the GRANTS program is advancing the swine industry’s knowledge of diseases and new technology through game-changing research, tools and more, visit swineresource.com/industry-advancement/grants.

About the Swine Research and Technology Review Board

The Swine Research and Technology Review Board, an independent group of swine veterinarians and researchers, selects GRANTS recipients annually. Board members for the 2022 award selection process include:

1. Daryl Olsen, DVM, AMVC, Audubon, Iowa
2. Montse Torremorell, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota
3. Darin Madson, DVM, PhD, JBS Live Pork, Greeley, Colorado
4. William Hollis, DVM, 2022 AASV President-elect, Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage Ltd., Carthage, Illinois
5. Lauren Glowzenski, DVM, 2022 AASV Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year, TriOak Foods, Oakville, Iowa