The purpose of the proposal is to conduct research to further understand avian influenza (AI) in poultry and to improve response strategies for the navajo nation

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement of $297,588 to Colorado State University on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to conduct research on avian influenza in poultry and improve response strategies for the Navajo Nation.

Colorado State University will deliver three primary outputs. First, an accurate census database of backyard flocks on the Navajo Nation, including GPS mapping and numerical counts, addressing a documented data gap that affects response coordination and disease surveillance for Navajo Nation and neighboring communities. Second, publications on the mechanism of avian influenza infection derived from testing, identification, and isolation of AI virus using animal model systems. Third, comprehensive outreach and education effort—including presentations and webinars—on biosafety, best practices, and response strategies for the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities, with findings distributed through reports and website resources.

The award runs through February 1, 2028, with performance at Fort Collins, Colorado. The program aims to provide impact assessment of backyard flocks on the Navajo Nation to off-reservation communities and advance knowledge of AI virus evolution, transmission, and infection mechanisms, with particular benefit to neighboring stakeholders facing potential poultry disease transmission risk from the Navajo Nation.

Three objectives are proposed. To achieve objective 1, an accurate census of backyard flocks on the navajo nation will be established, thereby addressing a census GAP that will potentially impact (i.e. data, response, education) navajo and neighboring communities. Objective 2 will involve testing, identifying, and isolating AI virus for research studies related to the mechanisms of infection using animal model systems. Objective 3 will provide a comprehensive outreach (i.e. presentations) and education (i.e. webinars) effort related to biosafety and best practices for the navajo nation and surrounding communities related to avian influenza. The deliverables will include an accurate census database (i.e. numbers, GPS map) of backyard flocks on the navajo nation, publications on the mechanism of infection, and reports, education and website information related to response strategies and AI knowledge for the navajo nation and neighboring communities/stakeholders. The expected outcome is to provide an impact assessment of backyard flocks on the navajo nation to neighboring communities and to improve the knowledge of AI virus evolution, mechanism of infection, and transmissibility. The project will benefit the navajo nation as IT is predicted that the census data on backyard flocks on the navajo nation is underestimated. In addition, neighboring off-reservation communities/stakeholders will benefit from the identification of the potential impact of poultry disease transmission from the navajo nation.