LSU awarded nearly $2 million to develop bird flu vaccine for poultry

(Photo: CDC) A research team led by the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded nearly $2 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop an innovative vaccine to protect poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, commonly known as bird flu. The funding, awarded through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge program, will support research aimed at developing a vaccine that provides earlier, stronger, and more practical protection against the virus, which has devastated poultry flocks across the United States. Current strategies for controlling HPAI rely heavily on biosecurity measures, disease surveillance, and rapid outbreak responses, which often require the depopulation of infected flocks to prevent further spread. Although several avian influenza vaccines have received conditional licenses from the USDA, no HPAI vaccine has been authorized for use at this time, except on a case-by-case basis in certain endangered or zoo species. The LSU Vet Med research aims to address several challenges associated with existing vaccine approaches, including the need for stronger protection, practical administration methods, and the ability to distinguish vaccinated birds from naturally infected birds. If successful, the vaccine could: Provide earlier and stronger protection against HPAI H5N1. Allow efficient vaccination of large poultry populations through drinking water or before chicks hatch. Support disease surveillance by helping distinguish vaccinated birds from infected birds. Reduce economic losses for poultry producers and help protect the nation’s food supply. Because HPAI H5N1 is widespread among migratory wild birds, which can carry and spread the virus across North America, eliminating the disease entirely is unlikely. Developing effective vaccination strategies could provide an important additional tool for long-term disease control. Since the current outbreak began in 2022, HPAI H5N1 has resulted in the loss of more than 168 million commercial and backyard poultry birds nationwide, disrupting food supplies, contributing to egg shortages, and increasing costs for consumers. The virus has also spread to other animal species, including dairy cattle, where it was first detected in the United States in 2024. LSU School of Veterinary Medicine