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
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.
September 5, 2025
New study explores ability of swine flu to spread in cattle
An article co-authored by 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/) reports on the results of research into the spread of the H3N2 swine influenza virus in calves.
June 18, 2025
New article explores transmissibility of bovine-derived HPAI H5N1 virus in pigs
An article co-authored by 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/) contributes to the understanding of the pathogenicity and transmissibility of the bovine-derived HPA1 H5N1 virus in pigs.
June 18, 2025
CEEZAD researchers advance understanding of SARS-CoV-2 detection in domestic cats
An article co-authored by the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal D
iseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) reports on advancements in detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in domestic cats.