Vector-Borne Disease – Genomics Seed Grant RFP

Vector-Borne Disease – Genomics Seed Grant RFP

Dear Texas A&M AgriLife Faculty,

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is helping lead the effort to expand research for insect-vector borne diseases (VBD) around the State of Texas. During the last legislative session in recognition of AgriLife Research’s leadership in VBD research the Texas legislature provided funding toward basic and applied research. VBD accounts in the U.S. for more than 17% of all infectious diseases. Diseases caused by these vectors and corresponding pathogens result in hundreds of millions of dollars in increased health care, increased veterinary costs for livestock, and loss of agricultural productivity.

Today, AgriLife Research is announcing a Genomic Seed Grant RFP ($200k total) in VBD for humans, crops or livestock. These Seed Grants are for faculty with appointments (including joint appointments) with AgriLife Research. The purpose of the Seed Grants is to provide initial, fundamental, mechanistic and biological information that can be utilized for additional funding and leveraging activities. In addition, AgriLife is getting a PacBio Sequel System to provide Texas A&M community with the latest long read sequencing capable as well as an updated Illumina HiSeq 4000, which represents a 40% improvement in our short read capabilities. The new equipment will place the AgriLife Genomic and Bioinformatics Service facility in an ideal position to provide faculty with the latest in sequencing technology, both now and in the coming years.

These endeavors will save lives around Texas and the world, and keep AgriLife as a world leader in VBD research.