The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Genvax Technologies, an animal vaccine startup located in Ames, are investing $278,163 into a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research grant to develop an avian influenza vaccine for dairy cows. The avian influenza type A, or H5N1, virus has spread to dairy cows for the first time, and because the virus is an emerging pathogen in cattle, no vaccines are available, according to a news release. The first case of avian influenza in cattle was reported in March 2024. Since then, over 1,000 cases have been confirmed in 17 states. The virus causes mild symptoms in dairy cows but adversely affects the milk’s color and quality and significantly reduces production. “The cross-species spread of H5N1 presents a new significant challenge to controlling the spread of this virus,” Angela Records, chief scientific officer at Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research said in a prepared statement. “Providing farmers with the tools they need to protect their dairy cows quickly is vital to protecting the U.S. dairy industry. This rapid funding will assist researchers in developing a vaccine and getting it to farmers.” Researchers led by Hank Harris, co-founder of Genvax Technologies, are developing a vaccine to prevent H5N1 in cows. They will also use diagnostic tools to differentiate between infected and vaccinated cows and conduct experiments to confirm that these diagnostic tools are effective in calves.