The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) at Kansas State University was established in 2010 to help protect the nation’s agricultural and public health sectors against a high-consequence foreign animal, emerging and zoonotic disease threats. CEEZAD has four principal missions:
- Development of novel, safe, efficacious, and DIVA-compatible vaccines for prevention and control of high-impact emerging and zoonotic diseases that can be manufactured in the U.S.
- Development and expansion of technologies and platforms for laboratory and point-of-need pathogen detection.
- Development of models to predict high-consequence disease behavior in the U.S. to aid prevention or outbreak control.
- Development of education and training programs for students, veterinarians, first responders, and researchers in high-impact animal diseases and animal emergencies.
CEEZAD Highlights
July 30, 2026
Global leaders unite to strengthen animal health preparedness
More than 110 leaders from industry, government and academia recently gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, for the Symposium on Biomanufacturing: Mitigating Transboundary Animal Disease Threats, hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine in partnership with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF.
July 10, 2026
K-State brings together global experts to strengthen animal health preparedness
More than 110 leaders from industry, government and academia gathered in Manhattan, June 8-10, for the Symposium on Biomanufacturing: Mitigating Transboundary Animal Disease Threats, hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine in partnership with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF.
April 6, 2026
Dr. Richt Speaks With TWiV
February 20, 2026
CEEZAD Director Among 63 Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) is one of 63 new members elected to the American Academy of Microbiology.