New $1.9 million grant lets Montana State team deepen understanding of avian flu

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service
March 16, 2026

BOZEMAN – With the support of a recent federal grant, a team of Montana State University microbiologists will spend the next three years expanding and deepening research into one of the world’s most damaging agricultural viruses, capitalizing on cutting-edge facilities and technologies housed at the university.

Assistant professorEmma Lovedayof theCollege of Agriculture’sDepartment of Microbiology and Cell Biologyis the lead investigator on a $1.9 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, more commonly known as “bird flu.” Avian influenza viruses are very diverse and originate in wild aquatic birds, Loveday said. HPAI strains, such as H5N1, are responsible for extensive economic losses to poultry producers, who must cull their flocks to contain the virus’s spread.

Loveday, along with professorDiane Bimczok and associate professorMatt Taylorof MSU’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, and professor Ron June of theDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, will use the funding to support research examining how viral infection impacts cells in the chicken intestine.

Read more here: https://www.montana.edu/news/25173/new-1-9-million-grant-lets-montana-state-team-deepen-understanding-of-avian-flu