Top Iowa Universities team up to be at the forefront of bioscience innovations
Iowa has been viewed as a leader in bioscience innovation with the University of Iowa and the Iowa State University working together to produce a variety of agricultural solutions. Both universities have been awarded a two year see grant worth $50,000 as an initiative towards developing the projects which include seeing how gut bacteria treat chronic diseases, improving weather forecasts for precision agriculture and better preventative vaccines for livestock.
The grant is supported by the offices of the Vice President for Research at the University of Iowa and the Iowa State University. The aim was to encourage innovative research and development to take place, contributing to one of Iowa’s leading industries.
Marty Scholtz, University of Iowas vice president for research said ” these grants are an example of the potent impact faculty and universities can have when they work side by side. And it’s a testament to the common vision and passion that the University of Iowa and Iowa State University bring to the task of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.”
Furthermore, Iowa State University’s vice president for research, Sarah Nusser commented, “the biosciences represent a significant growth engine for Iowa’s economy, and research is the fuel that drives this growth. This valuable program helps our institutions create an innovation ecosystem to accelerate identifying and translating scientific breakthroughs that ultimately lead to new commercialized bioscience technologies and innovations.”
Winning bioscience projects for 2019 include:
- Treating chronic disease with immunotherapies developed from gut bacteria
- Improving weather forecasts with better digital data
- Better vaccines against swine and avian flu
Below are several Iowa universities currently tackling different challenges of tomorrow:
- Iowa State University and the University of Iowa are creating joint team’s that’ll work together to use gut bacteria to produce better vaccines against avian/swine flu, improve weather predictions for precision farming, and treat chronic diseases.
- Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has been developing vaccines to eradicate and control animal ailments, while at the same time providing an ultra-modern teaching hospital. The college is also offering veterinary services that protect human and animal health by offering effective diagnostic testing to thousands of farmers each year.
To top it off, these universities leverage almost $1.5 billion in external funding each year and have efficient procedures in place for technology transfer, which when coupled together allow innovative technologies to move into commercialization faster.
