February 2016
Biosecurity Research Institute studying mosquito­borne viruses With the Zika virus outbreak growing, a Kansas State University infectious disease expert says that research is
crucial to combating this outbreak and preventing the spread of other mosquito­borne viruses.
"One of the strengths that we have here at the Biosecurity Research Institute is the development of diagnostics and
vaccine work," said Steve Higgs, director of the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI). "That is exactly what is needed
to enable timely responses to new diseases as they come along."
Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute is researching Japanese encephalitis, which is a mosquito­
borne virus similar to Zika virus. While the institute is not currently performing Zika virus research, it does have
isolates of the African lineage of Zika virus, which is similar to the Asian lineage involved in the current outbreak. The Biosecurity Research Institute, in Pat Roberts Hall, is fully equipped to help with any research that may find a
solution for the virus, said Higgs, Testing on the virus will begin immediately upon final approval. "Our capability to work with animals, plants, food and diseases that can infect people gives us the extraordinary
capacity to do interdisciplinary research across Kansas State University," Higgs said.
University scientists have studied two similar mosquito­borne viruses: chikungunya, which affects humans and
includes fever and joint pains, and Japanese encephalitis, which is found in pigs and birds and can transmit to human
through mosquitoes. Japanese encephalitis has been identified as an important disease for research at the National
Bio and Agro­defense Facility (NBAF), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's foremost animal disease
research facility that is being built adjacent to K­State's Manhattan campus. "We are doing the first U.S. studies of this type in 50 years and we're looking at whether Japanese encephalitis could
be transmitted by mosquitoes currently in North America," Higgs said. The studies are supported by the state of Kansas NBAF transition fund and are a collaboration with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Arthropod­Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, based in Manhattan. In addition to director of the BRI, Steve Higgs is the current president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine
and Hygiene. He is an expert in vector biology, arthropod­borne infectious diseases, immune modulation and vaccine
evaluation. Dr. Higgs has been sought out by national news media such as CNN, Bloomberg, National Geographic,
Turkish Television and others to discuss the Zika outbreak. Carnegie Classification recognizes K­State for research & enrollment Kansas State University has the "highest research activity" and high undergraduate enrollment, according to the
2015 update to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
The university moved up from the "very high research activity" classification in 2010 to the "highest research activity"
in 2015. The university also received the high undergraduate enrollment profile classification.
The Carnegie Classification is issued every five years to recognize and describe institutional diversity in U.S. higher
education. The 2015 classification used 2013­2014 data from the National College for Education Statistics, the
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, and The College Board.
"K­State has had a rich history of research coupled with our land­grant mission, and we've made a conscious effort
to build off our strengths in animal health and global food systems to enable impactful technologies, address real­
world problems and enhance well­being," said Peter Dorhout, interim vice president for research.
Research activity is a key piece of the university's plan to be a Top 50 public research university by 2025, Dorhout
said, and he noted that research expenditures grew 22 percent from 2009 to 2014.
The university has worked toward multiple recent research accomplishments.
K­State has received four highly competitive grants totaling more than $100 million from the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) for Feed the Future Innovation Labs for sorghum and millet, applied
wheat genomics, postharvest loss and sustainable intensification. The labs are global collaborations among
universities, industry and nongovernmental organizations with the aim of feeding the world's growing
population. The university is a vital member of the globally recognized Animal Health Corridor. Collaborations in the 300­
mile stretch between Manhattan, KS and Columbia, MO, have led to development of a vaccine to protect
poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza, research and policy leadership in the area of antimicrobial
resistance, and development of pigs resistant to a devastating disease that has cost the U.S. pork industry
more than $10 billion since the late 1980s. K­State continues building industry partnerships and has made more than 25 master agreements with
industry and government sponsors to streamline projects.
For more information on Kansas State University's classification, visit carnegieclassification.iu.edu. Cats in the Capitol will be held
on February 17 Kansas State University will be in the Statehouse on
Wednesday, February 17th for our annual Cats in the
Capitol event. Students, faculty and staff members will
be serving ice cream in the rotunda from 1:00 ­ 2:30
pm to thank state leaders for their dedication to the
university and higher education. Graduate students present
Kansas­related research to
legislators at statewide summit
President Schulz gives
university update to Vision 2020
Committee Ten Kansas State University graduate students
University President Kirk Schulz appeared before
researching important Kansas topics, including crop
the House of Representatives Vision 2020 Committee
development, highway safety, food quality, animal
to provide an update of Kansas State on January 27,
health and more, shared their work at the 13th Capitol
2016. His testimony focused on K­State 2025, the
Graduate Research Summit at the Kansas Statehouse
quality of students entering Kansas State, research
on February 2, 2016. activity, private philanthropy support and
accomplishments. Some of the highlights included:
The students presented their research posters and
interacted with legislators, the Kansas Board of
increased freshman­to­sophomore retention
Regents and the public. A university professor and an
rate
industry representative judged the posters and
current and future development plans for the
student presentations. The top presenters from each
Bio and Agro Science and Innovation Corridor,
university will be awarded a $500 scholarship. which will include additional facilities for the
university and research partners
"It is very important to communicate our research to
Results from K­State's campus survey
Kansas state legislators and the Kansas Board of
showed 85 percent of employees are
Regents to show the impact K­State has not only in
comfortable working at Kansas State
the state, but also nationwide," said Bryant Miller,
increased number of faculty and staff
master's student in marriage and family therapy.
nominated for regional/national awards
$73.3 million invested in academic facilities
The statewide forum included current research from
in FY15, with $207.1 million planned
graduate students at Kansas State University,
investment for FY16
University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical
$811 million raised in private funds toward the
Center, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State
$1 billion campaign goal
University and Pittsburg State University. The committee also heard from other university
Economic Growth Opportunities
for NBAF
presidents and will discuss potential policy changes
The National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) is
foundHERE. now under construction next to the Kansas State
University Campus in Manhattan. To maximize the
facility, there are multiple efforts underway to attract
which can assist higher education in the Kansas
Legislature. Dr. Schulz's presentation can be
DID YOU KNOW?
private companies and to help promote jobs and
The K­State Student Union is ranked No. 22
business development.
onEdSmart's list of the 51 most phenomenal student
unions? The Union is currently in the midst of a $25
Dr. Ron Trewyn, NBAF Liaison at Kansas State
million renovation that will bring enhanced dining
University, presented to the Kansas House
services, up­to­date retail areas, an innovative tech
Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development
lounge and much more. Kansas State University is the
Committee at the invitation of Chairman Mark
only school from Kansas on the list. Hutton on February 4, 2016. Entitled "NBAF Economic
Growth Opportunities", Dr. Trewyn indicated the initial
calls in 2009 after Kansas was named the site for
the lab numbered in the several hundreds. The
challenges to fund the lab put economic opportunities
on hold. With construction underway, there is renewed
interest in companies and businesses wanting to
locate near the lab in the Bio and Agro Science and
Innovation Corridor. Facebook
K­State Governmental Relations Staff
Sue Peterson, Director of Governmental Relations
Kristin Holt, Assistant to the Director
Asher Gilliland, Legislative Assistant
Twitter
Website
Contact Information
Office of Governmental Relations
110 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506­0112
785­532­6227
www.ksu.edu/govrelations