The threat from new or evolving swine diseases reminds producers and veterinarians of the critical role ongoing research plays in helping find solutions to problems that reduce production and profitability. When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), time has proven there are no easy, simple or quick solutions.

For the past 12 years, the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), Advancement in PRRS Research Awards has recognized and supported those who provide practical approaches to manage the disease.

Recently at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Conference in Orlando, BIVI announced the three recipients of its 2015 PRRS Research Awards. Including the three research awards for this year, the company has contributed nearly $1 million to fund 40 separate PRRS research projects.

This year, BIVI awarded a total of $75,000 to support three separate projects by independent swine disease researchers and practitioners.

From the many PRRS research proposals submitted for the 2015 awards consideration, the three following award recipients were selected and recognized at the March AASV Conference in Orlando:

Dr. Robert Morrison, DVM, Ph.D., University of Minnesota – A research project to evaluate the impact of PRRSv immune status at time of infection on time to stability (TTS) and time to baseline production (TTBP) in infected sow herds.

Dr. Beatriz Martinez Lopez, DVM, Ph.D., University of California, Davis – A study to evaluate the role of direct (i.e. animal contact) and indirect (i.e. airborne) transmission of different PRRSv genotypes within and between different swine production systems in the US.

Dr. Laura Greiner, Ph.D., M.S., Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions – A study to understand the actions and implications of people during unloading at lairage on PRRS/PEDV contamination of swine transportation equipment.

The three research proposals were selected based on established criteria that included potential for economic impact to the swine industry; originality and scientific quality; and probability of success in completing the study.