MDA-CAP

The mycobacterial diseases of animals coordinated agricultural project (MDA-CAP) is a pending grant application with the USDA-NIFA-AFRI Food Security (A5152) CAP program that seeks to bring together leading scientists with a long history of collaboration and a shared vision of improving food security through a reduction in losses from two of the most important diseases of livestock - bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and Johne’s disease (JD). 

The MDA-CAP is organized around seven cross-cutting areas: Pathogenesis, Host Response, Diagnostics, Vaccines, Host Genetics, Epidemiology, and Extension and Education, that share common resources and a common purpose.  We seek to develop a strong translational pipeline of new diagnostic tests to identify animals early in infection, novel vaccines that block disease transmission, and effective strategies to manage, prevent and control bTB and JD. Our proposed extension and education programs will heighten awareness of the problems and their solutions, communicate new knowledge, and provide innovative experiential learning opportunities for diverse groups of trainees and stakeholders. 

MDA-CAP impacts will include the facilitation of collaborations to find innovative real-world solutions to mitigate losses associated with bTB and JD, and leveraging of intellectual and physical resources across academic, government and private institutions. Specific outcomes will include the establishment of translational research capacity for developing and validating diagnostic tests, vaccines, and disease management approaches, together with comprehensive education and extension programming to facilitate mycobacterial disease prevention and control. 

Together, the MDA-CAP will bring together scientists and stakeholders with a shared vision and well defined plans to facilitate research, extension and education activities that promote food security by addressing well-documented and emerging needs in mycobacterial diseases of animals.