Develop a novel, practical, low-cost vaccine to protect poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the University of Washington a Cooperative Agreement valued at $1.932 million on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to develop a novel, practical, low-cost vaccine protecting poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The University of Washington will develop cell-specific targeting for avian respiratory epithelial cells to enable spray and aerosol-based vaccine delivery; design cell-targeted MS2 phage-like particles with polyvalent vaccination payloads; create a production workflow maximizing vaccine yield and purity with potential for extreme low-cost scale-up; develop formulations for stable non-cryogenic storage and on-site use; and demonstrate safety and effective immune response in chickens. The deliverable is a novel, cost-effective, easily administered mRNA and/or antigen vaccine with lasting humoral immunity for avian populations, particularly species crucial to the U.S.-based poultry industry, with emphasis on low-resource storage solutions and integration with existing vaccine delivery infrastructure.

Sandia National Laboratories serves as a sub-recipient, identifying poultry-specific targeting peptides and evaluating vaccine particles in cell models, and contributing to vaccine purification and shelf-stable formulations. Sandia will couple its cell-targeting peptides with the University of Washington's phage-like particles for enhanced vaccine delivery.

Work is performed in Washington. The period of performance runs from February 2, 2026, through February 1, 2029. The intended beneficiaries are American poultry farmers, poultry product consumers, and U.S.-based chicken product companies.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to develop a novel, practical, low-cost vaccine to protect poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Activities

Objective: 1) develop cell-specific targeting for avian respiratory epithelial cells to enable spray & aerosol-based vaccine delivery. 2) develop cell-targeted MS2 phage-like particles (PLPS) with polyvalent vaccination payloads. 3) develop a production workflow to maximize vaccine yield and purity and demonstrate potential for extreme low-cost scale-up. 4) develop formulations for stable non-cryogenic storage and on-site use. 5) demonstrate safety and effective immune response in chickens. Deliverables and expected outcomes: a novel cost-effective easily administered mrna and/or antigen vaccine with lasting humoral immunity for avian populations, particularly species crucial to the US-based poultry industry. Low-resource storage solutions and integration with existing vaccine delivery infrastructure will be emphasized.

Intended beneficiaries

American poultry farmers, poultry product consumers, US-based chicken product companies.

Subrecipient activities

Sandia national labs has developed cell-targeting peptides that will be coupled with the university of washington phage-like particles for enhanced vaccine delivery. Sandia will identify poultry-specific targeting peptides and evaluate vaccine particles in cell models, and they will contribute to vaccine purification and shelf-stable formulations.