For the first time in its history, the Respiratory Disease Research Board (formerly the PRRS Research Review Board) will expand its membership in 2016 to include the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year.

The AASV Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year is chosen every March at the association’s annual conference. Aaron Lower, DVM, of Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., in Carthage, Ill., will be the first to serve in this role, and will be a member of the Respiratory Disease Research Board from January through December 2016.

“Our young veterinarians are the future of swine veterinary medicine,” Luc Dufresne, Seaboard Foods veterinarian and member of the Respiratory Disease Research Board says. “It’s exciting to have Aaron join our board and to set a foundation for including outstanding young veterinarians in the Research Awards selection process.”

Over the last 12 years, Research Awards totaling $1 million supported development of additional diagnostic testing and sampling processes, identified more effective biosecurity practices, sought to understand virus transmission and developed risk assessment tools, therapeutic intervention programs and vaccination strategies. The program is supported through funding from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.

“The challenges swine producers face from PRRS and other respiratory diseases are always changing and evolving,” says Reid Philips, BIVI technical manager. “Broadening the perspective and long-term continuity of the board by including young practitioners will help the industry meet the challenge.”

Practicing veterinarians and researchers seeking an Award for Advancing Research in Respiratory Disease (formerly PRRS Research Awards) need to submit a proposal by Jan. 1. Additional instructions and submission forms are available at PRRSResearch.com under “Download Forms”. Also new in 2016, there will be three $35,000 awards provided and, in addition to PRRS, proposals for research on porcine circovirus type 2, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and influenza A virus in swine will be eligible.

“Swine respiratory diseases are a constant threat to producer profitability,” Philips says. “That is not likely to change in the foreseeable future, so it is wise to enlist a variety of perspectives in the fight against these diseases. The Research Review Board’s decision to include outstanding young practitioners is a positive step in this direction and one BIVI strongly supports as we plan for the future needs of the swine industry.”

For more information on the Respiratory Disease Research Board and the Research Award program, visit PRRSResearch.com.