RAV3N Phase III: Network of University and Federal BSL-3/4 Large Animal and Laboratory Agricultural Research Facilities

Goals / Objectives
The objective of this project between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Texas A&M University, through its Global Health Research Complex (TAMU GHRC), is to continue the development and coordination of the RAV3N Network, a network of University and Federal U.S. BSL3Ag/BSL-3/BSL-4 Large Animal and Laboratory Agricultural Research Facilities through collaborations and knowledge sharing with network members.

Project Methods
The RAV3N, or Research Alliance For Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network was started in FY20 with funding from USDA ARS and APHIS with the goal of creating a collaborative community of academic and federal institutions to establish strategic and coordinated approaches for large-animal biocontainment infrastructure and science capacity to improve bio-surveillance, diagnostics and countermeasure development against high-consequence pathogens of veterinary importance. In two years, the network has expanded to include 18 US academic and federal institutions. This second phase of the network will allow for continued and expanded collaborations, in-person meetings and enhanced preparedness of the national biocontainment research community.