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South ��ֱ���� State University researcher Sunil Mor has received the Bayer-Snoeyenbos New Investigator ��ֱ���� for his crucial work in the poultry industry. 

The highly prestigious award was presented at the 68th annual meeting of the American Association for Avian Pathologists, one of the largest poultry conferences in the world. It acknowledges the meritorious contribution to poultry disease research by a scientist who has been independently conducting research for less than seven years.
 
“The award and recognition that Dr. Mor recently received from this international association is a strong acknowledgment to the critical contributions and cutting-edge science that his laboratory is conducting in response to the needs of the poultry industry,” said Angela Pillatzki, head of SDSU’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and director of the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory. “On behalf of the department and the laboratory, I offer my sincere congratulations and true appreciation his expertise and commitment to excellence, which have substantially enhanced poultry research and diagnostics at SDSU.”
 
Mor, an assistant professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences and diagnostic virology section lead for the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, has only been in Brookings for three years, but his team has already had a huge impact on SDSU and the poultry industry in the United States.
 
In January 2024, Mor’s lab was the first to identify the presence of avian metapneumovirus subgroup B (aMPV-B) in the United States, later confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and declared an emerging disease in the industry. Within a week of discovery, his lab developed a test for clinical samples, and within a month the virus had been cultured in the lab. In the following months, the SDSU lab received samples from 11 states highlighting the widespread impact of the virus. Mor’s research team is currently developing vaccines for the aMPV-B strains found in the U.S. 
 
Due to these discoveries and accomplishments, further outlined in an article this spring, when it came time to put together his nomination for this award, there was an unexpected issue. Only two letters of support can be submitted for each nominee. Mor had so many people willing to write letters they had to be broken into two groups, one from supporters in academia and one from supporters in industry. The competition was notably tough, but ultimately Mor’s nomination was successful, and he was announced as the award winner at the association’s recent meeting in Portland, Oregon.
 
“This is a highly competitive award, so it means a lot to me and my research team to be selected,” Mor said. “It’s great recognition for us but also represents the capabilities of our diagnostic lab and what we can do at South ��ֱ���� State on a national and international level.”
 
Mor’s research work may be focused on poultry, but his work for the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory means he tests samples from a wide variety of ��ֱ����s to detect emerging or novel viruses that may be a potential threat across the agriculture industry and to wildlife populations. 
 
His group is also investigating other important diseases including emerging avian reoviruses in turkeys, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in cattle and SARS-CoV-2 in livestock and wild ��ֱ����s. Mor’s dedication to his work, and innovative ideas, make him well deserving of this award and a great asset for South ��ֱ����.