News 2015-05-15: Students from Iowa State University Visit Ghana and Tanzania

Melissa Herrmann and Kaylee Rowland from Iowa State University spent two weeks at the University of Ghana and Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. At each university, graduate students and research personnel were trained in essential laboratory techniques (ELISA, viral RNA isolation, and qPCR). The training focused on scaling up processes to high throughput to handle the large number of samples that will be collected in the next phase of the project. The Iowa State scientists also delivered an enhanced conceptual framework of the theory underlying the lab techniques and the importance of the results to this project. The project goals are to identify genetics underlying Newcastle Disease Virus resistance and to use the information to breed more robust chickens in Ghana and Tanzania where NDV is endemic. The training received helped empower the UOG and SUA groups with the knowledge, experience and confidence needed to process samples and obtain data needed to achieve the project goal.