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Targeting scientific excellence at K-StatePrestigious funding program invests in historical areas of strength Kansas Kansas State University has long been an active player in agricultural science and animal health. One of the university's premier research funding opportunities has awarded nearly two-thirds of its money in this arena. Over the last five years, K-State's Targeted Excellence program has invested more than $13 million in projects involving animal health or agriculture-based research. That's close to two-thirds of the program's expenditures through this last funding cycle. More than 80 percent of the funding dedicated to Targeted Excellence has been invested in the biosciences. "The Targeted Excellence program is a strategic investment designed to foster collaboration across disciplines," said M. Duane Nellis, K-State provost and senior vice president. "Research into animal and agricultural health has historically been a significant priority at K-State." The Targeted Excellence program, which started in 2003, is a competitive university initiative that supports cooperative, interdisciplinary programs that show promise of elevating K-State's stature as a top 10 land-grant institution. Projects selected for funding must also have a direct impact on the lives of Kansans. Targeted Excellence awards in the agriculture and animal health arenas have involved a variety of topics including food safety and security, geographic information systems, beef cattle, arthropod genomics and several other genome biology projects. "Agriculture is a thriving business in Kansas, supporting nearly 20 percent of the work force, and ultimately ensuring that the American public has quality food to eat," said James Guikema, associate vice president for research. "Kansas State University's rich history in agriculture and animal-related science is no secret." K-State has long-standing expertise in both agricultural and animal health research, expanding its efforts over the last decade into keeping the nation's food supply safe from disease and a potential terrorist attack. In March 1999, the university officially launched the "Homeland Defense Food Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness Program." In October of that year, Jon Wefald, K-State president, testified in front of the U.S. Senate's Emerging Threats Subcommittee on the agricultural bioweapons threat. To capitalize on the university's research expertise and expand its security efforts, the $54 million BRI--Biosecurity Research Institute--also was recently completed. The BRI, in Pat Roberts Hall, is the only biosafety level-3 biocontainment research and training facility in the U.S. that can accommodate high-consequence pathogen research on food animals, food crops and food processing under one roof. This will allow for a more comprehensive research approach. Also acknowledging K-State's status, the university is in the running as a location for the $451 million National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, which would be home to the nation's research on diseases afflicting agricultural animals. "Food safety and security has long been a priority for K-State and its researchers," Guikema said. "The significant investment made by the Targeted Excellence program nicely underscores the university's historical investment in animal health, food safety and agricultural science." Today, more than 150 K-Staters are actively involved in the food safety and animal health arenas, and more than $70 million has been invested in related research since 1999. 7/14/08 Date: 7/10/08
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