AgSEED 2025 Funded Projects

For older adults, a fall can be devastating. A Matter of Balance is an 8-session fall prevention program for midlife and older adults ages 55 and up, offered through the Extension network across Indiana in both 4-week and 8-week sessions. This project’s objective is to evaluate how the program’s length and timing (spring/summer versus fall/winter) impact its effectiveness. Using post-program survey data and a limited-efficacy feasibility study, the researchers will examine whether program length and delivery timing are associated with different outcomes relating to falls, physical activity, and gait speed.

PROJECT LEADER

Steve Amireault

Associate Professor of Health and Kinesiology

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a common neuroendocrine disorder of horses resembling Parkinson’s and Cushing’s diseases in humans, which results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Early diagnosis is important to reduce the disease’s consequences, which include poor breeding performance, lameness, muscle atrophy, and weight loss. Diagnosis is currently made by measuring concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). But these concentrations fluctuate seasonally and the hormone degrades quickly, making diagnosis challenging and costly. This study proposing using urinary cortisol as a diagnostic marker, as it’s more stable, cheaper, and less affected by seasonal changes than ACTH. A longitudinal case-control study will test 7 horses with PPID and 7 age-matched controls across spring and fall. The blood and urine samples will be analyzed to determine whether urinary cortisol can be used as a reliable diagnostic tool for PPID.

PROJECT LEADER

François-René Bertin

Associate Professor of of Large Animal Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a newly described disorder involving metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risks. The syndrome is associated with mortality and a poorer quality of life. People of Hispanic/Latine background, the second largest minority group in Indiana, are at increased risk. A healthy diet is a key part of CKM prevention and management, and research suggests culturally tailored interventions are related to better treatment adherence. The Dieta de la Milpa is a healthy dietary pattern described for people from Mexico and Central America that emphasizes the consumption of four traditional staples: corn, beans, pumpkins/squashes, and chilies. This study will test a snack inspired by the Dieta de la Milpa by looking at participants’ reactions to the snack’s sensory properties —including taste and smell —and the short-term impacts on CKM biomarkers and the gut microbiome. Participants will be Hispanic/Latine individuals from the Greater Lafayette area at risk of CKM syndrome. The results will serve as pilot data for future USDA and NIH grants.

PROJECT LEADER   

Annabel Biruete

Assistant Professor of Nutrition Science

Thrips include many species of plant pests, some of which can induce galls or serve as vectors for plant diseases like Tospovirus. But there are few genomic resources for this group of insects, which means the study of the genetic basis of thrip-caused plant pathologies has been limited. This study will address this issue by sequencing the whole genome of a gall-inducting thrips species, Gynaikothrips ficorum, using recently developed technology. A fully sequenced genome for G. ficorum will enable researchers to look at the genetic basis of gall-induction and enable more thorough scanning for vector-associated genes across the diversity of thrips. The project will contribute to a better understanding of major plant-pest systems and form preliminary data for planned USDA-NIFA and NSF proposals.

PROJECT LEADER

Stephen Cameron

Professor of Entomology

Recent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses associated with E. coli and Salmonella in lettuce and cucumbers have sent investigators searching for contamination sources. Such pathogens can take different internalization routes into fresh produce, including getting inside seeds through improper handling or contaminated soil or water. This contamination can happen at various stages of seed production, including harvesting, handling, storage, and transportation. Bacteria in contaminated seeds can survive in dry conditions and thrive when seeds are exposed to moisture during planting. The risks are potentially highest among small growers and others likely to save back their seeds. This project seeks to investigate if the practice of applying antimicrobial solutions to seeds can contribute to mitigate risks within romaine lettuce, cantaloupes, and cucumbers, and how the practice might affect seed germination rate. The study’s findings will be used for education and outreach to produce growers across the state to reduce the risk of crop contamination.

PROJECT LEADER

Amanda Deering

Associate Professor of Produce Food Safety

Household food waste is an enormous economic, environmental, and social issue across the developed world, but varying household attitudes and behaviors makes “one-size-fits-all” interventions difficult. This project will use citizen science in collaboration with Purdue Extension to actively engage Indiana households in food waste reduction. The work will include developing an interview guide to help households identify problem areas and potential solutions, then conducing a pilot study in Indiana households to identify the feasibility and efficacy of tailored interventions. Results will be shared with Extension professionals and academic researchers with the potential for broad societal impacts. Reduced food waste is an important step towards sustainability goals, and the more efficient use of food resources can help households be more resilient and have higher food security.

PROJECT LEADER

Brenna Ellison

Professor of Agribusiness Management

Public interest in animal welfare has partly resulted in changes in agricultural production practices, yet understanding of animal agriculture – a significant part of the US economy – is limited. Increasing knowledge of, and interest in, agriculture and animal welfare are critical to ensuring a safe, sustainable food supply for generations to come. Engaging youth is important for developing this interest. This project aims to implement a STEM curriculum involving animals for elementary schoolers. There will be two curricula: a live animal program with hatching chicken eggs, and a virtual program using videos of chicks. The study will use pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to compare the live versus virtual programming on the development of empathy, and the understanding of animal welfare and agriculture. This interdisciplinary project aims to provide valuable STEM resources for teachers and to foster a future generation with a deeper understanding of agriculture and animal welfare.

PROJECT LEADERS

Marisa Erasmus

Associate Professor of Animal Sciences

Wild pigs are the most invasive mammalian species, and pose tremendous threats globally to agriculture, the environment and the health of humans and domestic and wild animal species. Lethal control strategies such as trapping can be effective at a local level, but are difficult to implement and sustain in broader areas. This project proposes developing an oral vaccine that inhibits reproduction in wild pigs. The vaccine approach, based on previous results in mice, is aimed at inducing an immune response in female pigs against a sperm protein that plays a critical role in adhesion of sperm to eggs and fertilization. This research will analyze antibodies in pigs immunized with two different vaccines for their effect on in vitro fertilization of eggs by sperm. The data will be used as preliminary data to support larger grant applications for the development of an oral immunocontraceptive vaccine. 

PROJECT LEADER

Harm HogenEsch

Distinguished Professor of Immunopathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine

Respiratory infectious diseases like whooping cough and the flu pose significant risks to maternal and infant health, but maternal vaccination rates in the U.S. remain low, with only 25.6% of pregnant women receiving both Tdap and influenza vaccines in 2023. This study aims to identify how the use and trust in various information sources, particularly social media, relate to vaccine uptake among pregnant women in rural Indiana—a state with notably low vaccination rates. Researchers will conduct an online survey in partnership with Tippecanoe WIC and Purdue’s North Central Nursing Clinics (NCNC), looking at the frequency of use and trust in different information sources, including healthcare providers, Internet search engines, and social media, as well as engagement with vaccine content on social media. The project will also analyze how these factors influence vaccine attitudes and uptake. The findings will inform targeted interventions to improve maternal vaccination rates. This study aligns with national health goals, and will provide crucial preliminary data for future research.

PROJECT LEADER

Soo Jung Oh

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Tickets and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a growing global threat to human and animal health. In Indiana, the establishment of invasive species like the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum) and the Asian long-horned tick (Heamaphysalis longicornis) has intensified concerns, with local tick populations showing high infection rates of Lyme Disease-causing bacteria. Current tick surveillance methods are costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. This project seeks to improve vector control in Indiana and beyond by developing a system integrating autonomous robotics with advanced multimodal tick-tracking technology. Autonomous robots will continuously monitor high-risk areas, providing real-time data while enabling precision spraying to control tick populations. The system's scalability and effectiveness in controlling tick populations has significant potential for commercialization and external funding.

PROJECT LEADER

Upinder Kaur

Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Both tumor cells and fungal pathogens rely on iron, making them susceptible to changes in iron levels. Therefore, targeting iron pathways through chelation (a chemical process to remove metals from the body) is a promising approach for therapies. But the effectiveness of current iron chelators is limited by poor bioavailability at cancer or infection sites. This research looks at enhancing the bioavailability and delivery of iron chelators. It uses a modified version of the iron chelator to create a new prodrug (a biologically inactive compound that can be metabolized into an active compound). The project will use genetics, biochemistry and RNA sequencing to look at molecular mechanisms and anti-tumor and anti-fungal effects against bladder and kidney cancer, as well as against drug-resistant fungal strains. The study has the potential to impact public health by providing new insights and therapeutics for cancer biology and antifungal drug resistance.

PROJECT LEADER

Majid Kazemian

Associate Professor of Biochemistry

Surface discoloration of fresh beef on display in stores is a major quality and food loss challenge in the meat industry. Beef is frequently aged for several weeks to improve flavor and tenderness; however, this process can accelerate discoloration, reducing its display shelf-life. Developing methods to identify optimal aging times could greatly benefit the meat industry by minimizing aging-induced discoloration. This project aims to develop a non-invasive meat quality prediction system using acoustic technology. As muscle ultrastructure changes during aging, its interaction with sound wave may vary, allowing for acoustic characterization of different aging stages. By integrating sound sensors paired with AI-driven analysis, this system will assess beef muscles and determine optimal aging periods. This research has the potential to benefit the profitability and sustainability of the US meal industry by reducing waste and improving product quality.

PROJECT LEADER

Brad Kim

Professor of Animal Sciences

Post-weaning diarrhea is perhaps the most important health challenge for growing swine. The sudden diet change of weaning causes major turnover in the intestinal microbial community, resulting in low tolerance of the new diet, especially to dietary fibers in grains. Affected swine are susceptible to diarrhea-causing bacteria, which causes significant mortality. This project proposes developing a wheat bran product pre-fermented by healthy swine gut microbiota. The product could be used at weaning to colonize the intestinal tract with healthy bacteria that could out-compete the diarrhea-causing bacteria. If successful, this approach may greatly decrease piglet morbidity, mortality, and antibiotic use, while increasing producer profitability.

PROJECT LEADER

Steve Lindemann

Associate Professor of Food Science

Plant sexual reproduction is essential for maintaining species continuity, ensuring genetic diversity in nature, and sustaining crop yield in agriculture. A crucial aspect of sexual reproduction is the development of male and female gametophytes, which produce the gametes necessary for fertilization. Abnormalities in gametophytes frequently lead to reduced or absent offspring. Protein ubiquitination, the process by which the regulatory protein ubiquitin is attached to target proteins, controls key roles in plant biological processes, including gametophyte development. This project aims to establish experimental platform to study the profile of the ubiquitinated proteome in developing male gametophytes, using Ceratopteris richardii (a species of fern) as a model. Data generated from this study will support a grant proposal to the NSF.

PROJECT LEADER

Xing Liu

Associate Professor of Biochemistry

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming

and climate change, negatively impacting agricultural productivity. In the U.S., approximately

60% of total methane emissions arise from human activities, with 26% due to the belching of ruminants like cattle. As global demand for animal-derived foods increases, effective methane

mitigation strategies are critical in addressing the global climate crisis. Methane-reducing feed additives like 3-NOP, nitrates, and seaweeds have shown potential to reduce methane emissions in dairy cattle by up to 36%. But these additives are linked to feeding concerns in cattle. This project will investigate the behavioral and emotional responses of dairy cows to these methane-reducing diets. It will use automatic technologies to monitor changes in feeding behavior and facial expressions, providing insight into the impacts of these diets on cows' behavioral and emotional states. This study supports the economic viability of Indiana's dairy industry while contributing to climate action goals that benefit the broader community.

PROJECT LEADER

Heather Neave

Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences

The bison serves as both a vital food source and a keystone species in prairie ecosystems, playing a critical role in soil development, water retention, restoration of native plants and wildlife, and carbon sequestration. Populations have rebounded from near-extinction in the late-1800s, but these populations now face persistent threats, particularly from mycoplasmosis, a disease caused by the microorganism Mycoplasma bovis. Mycoplasmosis is incurable, thus early detection and surveillance are crucial. Unfortunately, current diagnostic methods for mycoplasmosis are limited to commercial laboratories, requiring expensive equipment, trained personnel, and lengthy result reporting times. This project proposes to address these limitations with a rapid, on-site assay. The project will benefit tribal communities, bison producers, and conservation initiatives, and will serve as a foundation for rapid diagnostic tests in various animal agricultural sectors, including beef, dairy, and swine production.

PROJECT LEADER

Viju Vijayan Pillai

Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology

While modern corn production systems produce impressive yields, their heavy reliance on tall-stature hybrids and intensive chemical fertilization may limit below-ground carbon allocation. This, in turn, can reduce soil microbial anabolism and impede soil carbon sequestration and storage. This study will look at whether it’s possible to breed and select hybrids and to fine-tune fertilizer applications to synchronize crop productivity with its belowground carbon allocation and soil carbon capture. The work is based on the theory that mild-to-moderate nutrient deficiency would enhance belowground plant carbon allocation and boost soil microbial carbon anabolism. Through a greenhouse study, researchers will examine how hybrid selection (novel short-stature vs. tall-stature corn hybrids) and different fertilizer nitrogen rates affect plant carbon allocation, root morphology, soil microbial responses, and soil carbon content. Addressing this knowledge gap is essential for devising sustainable strategies in Indiana, a leading agricultural state characterized by intensively fertilized corn and soybean production.

PROJECT LEADER

Yichao Rui

Assistant Professor of Agronomy