Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Louisiana State University (LSU) received a Cooperative Agreement award of $250,150 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The award, effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, provides annual infrastructure support to National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 laboratories. This funding sustains the operational capabilities of these designated laboratories, which serve critical roles in animal health surveillance, disease diagnosis, and response activities across the United States.

The infrastructure support enables NAHLN laboratories to maintain and strengthen their diagnostic and laboratory services, including capabilities such as disease testing, antimicrobial resistance evaluation, and whole genome sequencing for animal pathogens. By providing dedicated infrastructure funding to these network laboratories, APHIS ensures sustained readiness for emerging animal health threats, including diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), while supporting the agency's broader mission to protect U.S. agricultural resources and food supply safety.