Methods development: investigating the role of host factors in the susceptibility of ELK to chronic wasting disease

Midwestern University received a $524,878.78 cooperative agreement award from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Wildlife Services program (CFDA 10.028), effective September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2026. The award funds methods development research investigating the role of host factors in elk susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD). This research supports APHIS's mission to reduce wildlife disease transmission and damage by developing evidence-based scientific tools and strategies for managing zoonotic disease reservoirs.

Under this cooperative agreement, Midwestern University will conduct applied research focused on understanding the biological and host-related factors that influence CWD susceptibility in elk populations. The project advances the Wildlife Services program's emphasis on surveillance techniques, methods development, and evidence-based management strategies for chronic wasting disease control. The one-year project period aligns with typical Wildlife Services funding structures and contributes to the broader federal initiative to address CWD management and prevention across wild cervid populations.