Year in Review: RAV3N 2024 Accomplishments

Awareness and interest in the  Research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N) has continuously increased this year. During the 2024 year, RAV3N host its virtual monthly working group meetings, as well as had in person meetings that allowed members of the network to get together and promoted knowledge exchange and networking.

The in person workshops hosted by RAV3N in 2024 were the BSL-3 Necropsy workshop, the BSL-3/4 Facilities and Operations workshop, and the annual meeting. The Necropsy workshop was held in April at the USDA National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa and brought together 22 members from the network. The workshop focused on performing necropsies in a biocontainment environment and allowed members to discuss and learn the best practices for necropsies in ABSL-3Ag facilities. The Facilities and Operations workshop brought together 10 network members and was hosted in September at the Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex in partnership with the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston National Laboratory, where the members had the opportunity to go for a tour. The workshop gave members the chance to discuss relevant topics in operations and maintenance of these complex facilities and share lessons learned. The annual meeting was hosted in August by The Ohio State University, Plant and Animal Agrosecurity Research Facility in Wooster, Ohio and brought together the members to discuss the latest developments in biocontainment research.

With the recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle, RAV3N organized and coordinated bi-weekly calls with its members to share and discuss research plans, coordinated emergency response and funding opportunities.

The 2025 will be another busy year for the RAV3N network as we have many in person workshops and meetings planned for our members and we cannot wait to share the accomplishments of the upcoming year!