US scientist receives grant for avian flu research

An immunologist at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, has received a Centers of Research Excellence grant of $700,000 from the North Dakota Department of Commerce to continue research on avian flu antibodies that could help poultry farmers effectively combat outbreaks of the disease.

The lab of Dr David Bradley is working collaboratively on the project with a local company, Avianax (which develops antibodies for human and animal diseases such as West Nile and the avian flu, respectively), which is providing a 2-to-1 cash match for this research to develop the therapeutic avian flu antibody. Avianax LLC, a joint venture between Intraglobal Biologics and the University of North Dakota Research Foundation, was created to investigate the properties of goose antibodies and how they can be utilised as a platform for therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of various viral diseases.

Currently, avian flu outbreaks almost certainly result in the destruction of affected flocks within a 5-mile radius. It’s a costly, devastating process. But Bradley’s research has already proven that the antibodies, developed from goose eggs, could be very effective in combatting this viral flu.

Bradley and Avianax, with the help of the grant, hope to develop commercially viable therapeutic treatments within 12 to 18 months.