Washington State University

11/04/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/04/2024 08:19

WSU-led initiative focuses on veterinary vaccines to combat food insecurity

PULLMAN, Wash. - A new program led by Washington State University will receive up to $35 million over the next five years from the United States Agency for International Development to improve the development, delivery, adoption and use of effective veterinary vaccines to help combat global hunger and poverty.

Funded under USAID's Feed the Future initiative, the Feed the Future Veterinary Vaccine Delivery Innovation Lab (VVDIL) will focus on boosting food security and improving nutrition for women and children in Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal by tackling the primary barriers to the widespread use of veterinary vaccines in those areas, including the significant challenge posed by cold chain dependency. Many essential vaccines require stable, low temperatures during storage and transport that are often difficult to maintain in remote areas with unreliable electricity. By developing heat-stable alternatives and enhancing distribution systems, the program aims to make vaccines accessible and effective in even the most isolated regions.

"By improving the delivery and adoption of these vaccines, we can protect livestock from preventable diseases, increase production, reduce reliance on antibiotics and ultimately uplift communities," said Felix Lankester, who is serving as the program's director and is an associate professor in the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine's Paul G. Allen School for Global Health. "This program has the potential to make a difference in the lives of countless people."

The lab will collaborate with a consortium of nine partners across Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal and include a multidisciplinary team of 30 experts in vaccinology, epidemiology, economics, nutrition, sociology, anthropology and business. The initiative will prioritize livestock diseases affecting cattle, sheep, goats and chickens in the target countries.

Beyond addressing cold chain issues, the lab will address other barriers limiting access to veterinary vaccines in many low- and middle-income regions, including inadequate distribution infrastructure, vaccine availability and financing for veterinary services. In addition, the lab will lead epidemiological, economic and social research and explore new methods to bolster local investments and government support for veterinary health services.

"We know the importance of data on burden of animal diseases, on household access to nutritious diets, incomes of families, and the wider impact on economies that are dependent on livestock," said Thumbi Mwangi, who is the program's principal investigator and an associate professor in the Allen School. "Through VVDIL, we will generate evidence that will support decisions on investments by governments and the private sector that improve the resilience, nutrition status and opportunities of many livestock dependent communities."

A crucial component of the initiative is building local capacity to ensure sustainable development and widespread use of veterinary vaccines.

"We want to build a model that local communities can maintain and improve upon," Lankester said. "This initiative aims to set a foundation for resilient food systems and healthier livestock populations."

The program will also invest in training the next generation of vaccinologists, epidemiologists, sociologists and economists through master's, doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships supported by WSU faculty and scientists from collaborating institutions, in addition to providing research exposure for undergraduate students from institutions in Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal.

"This project builds upon the deep commitment of our faculty and staff working in Africa and reflects their unique focus on sustainable, community-based health care," WSU College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dori Borjesson said. "Our team's dedication to local solutions will be key to creating lasting, positive impacts on food security and economic resilience."

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