Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine has received a $24 million contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The award will advance the Detection Canine Sciences, Innovation, Technology and Education (DCSITE) program, according to news release from Auburn.
“Our DCSITE program will promote continual improvement and best practices for domestic production of detection canines to respond to evolving Homeland Security priorities,” said Frank Bartol, College of Veterinary Medicine associate dean for research and graduate studies and DCSITE program project investigator.
The contract award is the largest contract in school history, according to Auburn University. The contract will advance the program’s scientific practices in analytical chemistry, genetics, genomics, reproduction, veterinary and sports medicine, olfactory neuroscience, behavior and cognition, metrology and engineering for detection canine sciences.
“Auburn has long been recognized for its world-class detection canine sciences research, and this funding from the Department of Homeland Security will allow significant enhancement and expansion of this critically important work,” James Weyhenmeyer, Auburn vice president for research and economic development, said in a news release.
In 2021, AL.com working in partnership with three other media outlets reported on injuries from police apprehension dogs, which are trained to find and stop suspects. The use of apprehension dogs often leads to serious, even life-changing injuries that send more than three thousand people to emergency rooms each.
For more information about the DCSITE program, visit www.dcsite.org.
Read More: Auburn awarded Homeland Security contract for canine detection research