Center for Integrated Animal Genomics (CIAG)

The Center for Integrated Animal Genomics (CIAG) at Iowa State University  (ISU) comprises an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students using integrated system-wide genomic approaches to address current and future challenges and opportunities in animal agriculture and human health.  Scientists at the Center work to identify, map and understand the function and control of genes to improve animal and human health.  CIAG embraces basic research areas of animal biology and veterinary medicine that build on current strengths at ISU and are predicted to be of particular importance in agricultural research in the next five to ten years.  These areas include comparative genomics and animal-microbe interactions.

CIAG was created in 2002.  The primary activities of the Center are to foster faculty development and collaborative research.  Specific programs include:  CIAG Infrastructure Grants and Research Support Grants Programs that emphasize interdisciplinary collaborative research; CIAG workshops in areas of animal genetics, comparative genomics, and animal-microbe interactions; and the Genomics Scholar and Fellowship Program to help faculty on campus establish national and international collaborations and research opportunities.  An additional activity of the Center is the preparation of future scientists for the challenges and opportunities in emerging areas of animal agriculture and human health through participation in the Graduate Training Programs.

The goal of CIAG is to make Iowa State the premier institution in the world in integrated animal genomics by building on current strengths.