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Vet & land-grant schools create antibiotic task force

 

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) are creating a Task Force on Antibiotic Resistance in Production Agriculture.

The task force is comprised of representatives from the colleges, universities and veterinary colleges as well as production agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry.  It will advise the federal government on a research agenda and the use of antibiotics in production agriculture.

Officials from key federal agencies are expected to serve as observers to the task force and leaders from public universities in Mexico and Canada will serve as ex officio members.

Dr. Lonnie King, dean of the veterinary college at the Ohio State University will chair the task force.  University of Illinois president Robert Easter will co-chair.  Other members include:

 

The task force’s members include:

• Richard A. Carnevale, Vice President, Regulatory, Scientific and International Affairs, Animal Health Institute
• Thomas Coon, Vice President, Dean and Director, Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR)
• Eleanor Green, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
• Ronnie Green, Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, University of Nebraska.
• Walter Hill, Dean, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, Tuskegee University
• Christine Hoang, Assistant Director, Division of Scientific Activities, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Ashley Peterson, Vice President of Science and Technology, National Chicken Council
• Willie Reed, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
• Kathy Simmons, Chief Veterinarian, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• Liz Wagstrom, Chief Veterinarian, National Pork Producers Council

 

Ex Officio members are:

• Alastair E. Cribb, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
• Francisco José Trigo Tavera, Secretary of Institutional Development, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

 

Organization Ex Officio members are:

• Andrew T. Maccabe, Executive Director, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
• Ian Maw, Vice President, Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

 

On September 18, 2014, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report, Combating Antibiotic Resistance, which laid out several recommendations to address the problem. President Obama has also issued an executive order that describes the antibiotic resistant bacteria problem as a national security priority and directs various executive branch departments and agencies to develop a specific plan of action by mid-February 2015 to address antibiotic resistance and protect public health.

 Chairman King says once the policies are established; “APLU member institutions will play an important role in educating producers and the general public about the appropriate use of antibiotics in agriculture and veterinary medicine and the design of effective stewardship programs.”