This proposal aims to enhance surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry and wild birds

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $1.420 million cooperative agreement to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The award funds development of enhanced surveillance methods for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry and wild birds using highly sensitive digital PCR. The project will develop and validate an approach to identify HPAI in surface water impacted by waterfowl, establish sampling procedures to maximize detection and enable virus sequencing, and apply these methods to generate actionable surveillance data. Performance occurs in Nebraska and runs through February 1, 2028.

The University of Nebraska's Office of Sponsored Programs serves as the prime recipient. The University of Nebraska Medical Center, a division of the Board of Regents, is a sub-recipient conducting comprehensive HPAI surveillance across diverse landscapes and developing holistic sample and testing methodologies for early detection. The sub-award was made on March 11, 2026.

Utilizing highly sensitive digital PCR, this project will develop an approach to identify HPAI in surface water impacted by waterfowl and the sampling procedures to maximize detection and allow virus sequencing. These methods will be applied to generate actionable surveillance data.