The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) was awarded a $306,292 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants program (CFDA 10.200). The grant aims to develop improved disease-resistant Eastern oyster stocks to support the expansion of the U.S. oyster aquaculture industry. Specifically, the project will assess the heritability of resistance to two major oyster pathogens, Dermo and MSX, enabling the development of better breeding strategies for disease-resistant oysters. The research will measure the survival, infection rates, and disease response of genetically-unique oyster groups in field trials, and use mathematical modeling to understand the relationship between oyster genetics, disease, and performance. Upon completion, VIMS will create and distribute new disease-resistant oyster stocks to regional commercial hatcheries to increase the security and profitability of U.S. oyster aquaculture production. The award period is from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026.
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