From Risk to Resilience: New Funding Backs Avian Influenza Research
The Caceres lab is part of a research team investigating host determinants of avian influenza virus susceptibility
2025-06-23
A team led by Dr. Carnaccini and Dr. Caceres, in collaboration with CSIRO, Australia, was recently awarded a project to address the growing threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The research aims to uncover the genetic factors that make some birds more resistant to infection. The project will focus on the H5Nx HPAIV strain, which has had devastating effects on poultry, wildlife, and food supply chains. Current control methods—such as strict biosecurity and eradication programs—have proven insufficient, and trade restrictions prevent the use of vaccines. With recent advances in precision breeding, the team sees new opportunities to develop poultry that are genetically resistant to the virus, but doing so requires a deeper understanding of the host’s genetic response to infection.