Oct. 13, 2014
Contact:
Lisa Bielke, Department of Poultry Science
479-575-8495 / lbielke@uark.edu
Dave Edmark, Division of Agriculture Communications
479-575-6940 / dedmark@uark.edu
Bielke cited by ABI for poultry health vaccine work
Fast facts:
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Arkansas Biosciences Institute recognizes Division of Agriculture scientist
Patent is pending on vaccine technology
Lisa Bielke joined Poultry Health Laboratory in 2011
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Lisa Bielke, a poultry health research assistant
professor at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been
presented the 2014 New Investigator of the Year Award by the Arkansas
Biosciences Institute for her research on new vaccine technologies for animal
health.
Bielke was honored for her research at the Division’s Poultry Health
Laboratory studying poultry diseases. Since joining the lab in 2011, she has
worked on a project supported by ABI for development of an adjuvant – an agent
that enhances a body’s immune response – that has been licensed by a vaccine
company through the university. The vaccine has a patent pending while being
field tested with multiple domestic and international companies.
Vaccines resulting from Bielke’s research collaborations promote mucosal
immunity for hard-to-treat diseases such as Salmonella, Campylobacter,
coccidia, avian influenza and necrotic enteritis in which mucosal immunity is
important for preventing infection. The vaccines can be delivered to animals
through drinking water.
The primary focus of her current research is poultry health with emphasis
on enteric diseases and control of food pathogens. Bielke develops tools and
assays for assessment of gastrointestinal inflammation to produce poultry in a
more sustainable manner that promotes health and well-being while increasing
profitability.
“Dr. Bielke’s research project captures the goals of the ABI and the
Division of Agriculture,” said Mark Cochran, UA System vice president for
agriculture and ABI board member. “Discovering novel methods of solving
current real-world problems is at the heart of the ABI mission. We are always
gratified to see our research reaching end users.”
Bielke earned her Ph.D. degree from the UA studying poultry
microbiology, health and alternatives to antibiotics. While completing her postdoctoral work, Bielke was a co-investigator on small business innovation
research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation and the Department of Defense totaling more than $2 million, and a
primary investigator on grants totaling nearly $400,000. Her research
collaborations within the UA and other institutions have resulted in industry and
academic grants totaling more than $1.2 million.
Bielke serves on four advisory committees for current students and has
served as president of the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases. She is
presently a member of the Board of Trustees for the Poultry Science Association
Foundation and received the Poultry Science Association Early Achievement
Award.
PHOTO (Bielke02.jpg)
Lisa Bielke
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.