USPOULTRY and Foundation Approve Funding for Four New Board Research Initiative Topics

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the USPOULTRY Foundation have announced the approval of four new research topics under the Board Research Initiative (BRI) for this year’s competition. The decision was made by the boards of directors of both organizations, following recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC).

FRAC, comprised of professionals representing diverse segments of the poultry and egg industry, evaluates research proposals for industry relevance and provides guidance to the boards on funding priorities.

The BRI was created to address urgent and emerging challenges facing the poultry and egg sectors, complementing USPOULTRY’s established research program. By focusing annually on selected priority areas, the Initiative strengthens the overall research portfolio and ensures that critical issues impacting the industry are addressed in a timely manner.

For 2025, the boards have approved four new topics of research:

• Improved measures for controlling blackhead disease in turkeys and chickens

• Combatting turkey coronavirus (TCV) in the turkey industry

• Refining avian metapneumovirus vaccination strategies for improved disease management

• Advancing knowledge and management of infectious coryza in layers

To support interested researchers, FRAC will host a Zoom webinar on Monday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. ET, providing an overview of the request for proposals (RFPs) related to these topics and instructions for submitting a preproposal. The session will also include a Q&A segment and will be recorded for later access.

The BRI continues to play a vital role in ensuring the poultry and egg industry has access to science-driven solutions, reinforcing USPOULTRY and the Foundation’s commitment to advancing industry knowledge, disease management, and long-term sustainability.