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
August 5, 2026
NIH Supports Phase 2 of CEZID Research at K-State
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved funding for Phase 2 of the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID) in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. (www.K-state.edu/CEZID) The CEZID Phase 2 period in the amount of $11,360,074 extends from August 1, 2026 through April 30, 2031.
Dr. Juergen A. Richt, director of CEZID, reacted to the news of the Phase 2 CEZID funding as follows: “This award demonstrates the outstanding dedication, collaboration and scientific excellence by our investigators, staff, core personnel, mentors, collaborators and institutional partners. It recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of CEZID researchers during Phase 1 and provides an important foundation for advancing our research, training, and capacity-building efforts over the next five years.”
The NIH established CEZID in 2020 under the supervision of Dr. Richt, the Regents and University Distinguished Professor at K-State, who also serves as director of the KSU Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org).
CEZID research 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 CEZID is to advance the understanding of emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases in the State of Kansas. Two research core facilities, an Animal Model/Pathology (AMP) core and a Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Core, support the CEZID research projects and programs.
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.