Renowned KSU pig disease researcher joins US swine health group
The US Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) says Megan Niederwerder, has been appointed associate director at that organization.
Most recently an assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, Niederwerder is to take on her new role on April 1.
The mission of the SHIC, launched in 2015 with US Pork Checkoff funding, is to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats, and analysis of swine health data.
“The SHIC mission is consistent with my professional goals of increasing the efficiency of pork production through improving swine health,” Niederwerder commented. “It is an honor to be named the first associate director and I look forward to contributing to the breadth of swine health and disease objectives led by SHIC for the industry.”
In November 2021, the National Pork Board (NPB) board of directors provided an additional $15m to fund the SHIC through to 2027. Subsequent to this extension, the SHIC board of directors approved adding the role of associate director for the organization.
“The addition of Megan as associate director will help to make SHIC even more impactful and able to meet the needs of pork producers,” remarked SHIC executive director, Paul Sundberg.
Niederwerder will assist Sundberg in directing overall expectations and accountability as well as ensuring quality programs and services. This includes collaborating to provide oversight and implementation of the SHIC budget, long range planning, and strategic initiatives.
Additionally, she will interact closely with the pork community, assisting efforts to build awareness of SHIC, establishing and maintaining working relationships in the pork industry, said the organization.
After earning her veterinary degree at Kansas State University, she was in clinical practice for three years. Upon her return to Kansas State, she obtained her PhD in infectious diseases of swine, including research projects involving porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine circovirus type 2, and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.
During her time as a faculty member in academia, Niederwerder led an internationally renowned research program on viral diseases of swine with focus areas on the risk and mitigation of African swine fever virus introduction through feed and the use of the gut microbiome as an alternative tool for porcine respiratory disease. “I see improvements in swine health to be two-fold, including increasing the health of swine with endemic disease exposure and decreasing the risk of foreign animal disease exposure,” she said.
