Three projects win 2016 European PRRS Research Award sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Ingelheim, Germany, 21 October 2016 – The winners of the 2016 European PRRS Research Award have been announced at this year’s international swine veterinary assembly by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) continues to be a highly prevalent disease in European pigs, causing economic losses through its negative effects on reproduction and growth as well as by clinical illness.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health sponsors the €75,000 research award programme in Europe both to encourage further development of practical methods for controlling PRRS and in order to recognise scientific excellence in this field. Furthermore, it offers a valuable opportunity for interaction and academic exchange among swine researchers and veterinary practitioners.

In 2016 the company has sponsored the annual European PRRS Research Award for the third time already. Through this prestigious programme, every year Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health honours three winning research proposals selected by an independent expert panel with a funding of €25,000 each.

The winners of this year’s European PRRS Research Award, as selected by the review board chaired by Dr Michael Murtaugh of the University of Minnesota, USA, are:

• Field study to assess vertical transmission of type 1 strains of PRRS virus using pre-weaning oral fluid samples (Arnaud Lebret, Porc.Spective swine veterinary practice, Brittany, France)
• Assessment of immunological response and clinical protection after single and double PRRSV vaccination in weaning piglets with maternal antibodies in a combined field and experimental study (Anne Brigitte Cay, CODA-CERVA National Reference Laboratories, Brussels, Belgium)
• Genetic programming of porcine memory B cells to enable the isolation of PRRSV-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (Simon Graham, The Pirbright Institute, UK)

Renowned swine health specialists from Europe and the United States participated in the award ceremony, which was held in Prague (Czech Republic). It coincided with the 2016 Europe PRRSpective conference organised by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health at the same venue.

With this latest European PRRS Research Award presentation, Boehringer Ingelheim has again reinforced its commitment to supporting applied research for the improved control of PRRS in Europe and the rest of the world. Including the three awards for this year and over 40 separate PRRS projects honoured so far in the United States, the company has already contributed more than one million euros to funding applied research on this swine disease.

Call for submissions for next year’s European PRRS Research Award will open in February 2017. It will include new arrangements to assist veterinary practitioners wanting to submit a research proposal. For more information please visit www.prrs.com.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is the 6th largest animal health business in the world and is committed to providing leading innovative solutions to prevent, treat and cure animal diseases. With 3,800 employees worldwide, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health achieved net sales of about € 1.36 billion in 2015, representing 9% of the corporation’s revenue base. Main brands of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Animal Health portfolio are Ingelvac CircoFLEX^® (2015 sales of € 281 million), Metacam^® (2015 sales of € 101 million), Ingelvac^® PRRS (2015 sales of € 99 million) and Duramune^® (2015 sales of € 88 million). The Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business is global leader in swine vaccines and holds strong positions in companion animal and cattle vaccines as well as in pharmaceutical specialties for animal use. The company researches and develops therapeutic solutions for animals in the US, Germany, China, Mexico and Japan. In its research-driven Animal Health business, Boehringer Ingelheim continually invests around 12% of net sales of the Animal Health business in R&D.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim operates globally through 145 affiliates and a total of some 47,500 employees. The focus of the family-owned company, founded in 1885, is on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

Social responsibility is an important element of the corporate culture at Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes worldwide involvement in social projects through, for example, the initiative “Making More Health” while also caring for employees. Respect, equal opportunity and reconciling career and family form the foundation of mutual cooperation. The company also focuses on environmental protection and sustainability in everything it does.

In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 14.8 billion euros. R&D expenditure corresponds to 20.3 per cent of net sales.

For more information please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com. 

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