# Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

> **NIH NIH P20** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $2,261,498

## Abstract

Overall Project Summary:
This COBRE application will form a unique research center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
(EZID). Four primary research projects bridge areas of excellence in the Infectious Diseases programs at
Kansas State University (KSU) within the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. The
projects examine virulence factors and host-pathogen interactions of various pathogens, utilizing both basic and
translational approaches in in vitro systems and in animal models. The overarching goal of the EZID center is to
advance our understanding of emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases in the State of Kansas. Our goals are
also clearly aligned with NIH's strategic plan “Turning Discovery into Health”. Two research core facilities will
support the research projects and programs, an Animal Model/Pathology Core and a Molecular and Cellular
Biology Core, offering unique research infrastructure resources within KSU and the State of Kansas. The
success and growth of EZID will be enabled through various programs: (1) a faculty mentoring program that
will provide outstanding mentoring by nationally/internationally recognized mentors. The mentoring team will
implement individualized development plans, and support all aspects of research programs and grant application
processes to secure R01-level funding by the project leaders; (2) new faculty recruitment at KSU to ensure
the growth and sustainability of EZID, as well as productive use of core facilities; (3) a pilot and seed grant
program that will promote center growth by funding projects at universities within the State of Kansas; and (4)
a regional scientific network (RSN) that will provide inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations,
increased usage of core facilities, and access to additional core facilities and training opportunities. Initial
partners of the RSN include several COBREs within the State of Kansas and Nebraska, as well as the K-INBRE
center at the University of Kansas Medical School. The RSN will grow and expand both to other universities in
the region and to national COBRE centers working in the same mission space, thereby providing opportunities
for the rapid growth of research programs. These EZID programs will be the basis by which research productivity
is enabled and supported, helping to advance the overall success and reputation of the COBRE core projects,
pilot projects, post-doctoral and graduate student trainees, and associated EZID faculty. The EZID center will
host annual research symposia that will include participants from EZID projects and RSN members to showcase
and share research with investigators from inside and outside of the network, promoting the national and
international reputation of EZID.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9852897
- **Project number:** 1P20GM130448-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Juergen A Richt
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,261,498
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9852897

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9852897, Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (1P20GM130448-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9852897. Licensed CC0.

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