Congratulations to Kansas State University officials on the school’s selection as one of five new centers to help test for mad cow disease.

K-State’s national and world leadership in animal and plant science is verified by the selection of its laboratories as a testing center for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. Only a select few labs and veterinary schools have received this high honor.

“This approval will place us in the front line of the nation’s war on animal disease and will be a key component in the constant surveillance to determine threats such as BSE,” said KSU President Jon Wefald.

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., played a significant role in KSU landing the laboratory project and lauded the selection, saying, “This further solidifies Kansas State as a national and world leader in animal and plant disease and food security research.”

This is good news for Kansas and Kansas State University. It offers further evidence that the state’s centers of learning and research paired with the recently approved funding plan for bioscience and life science research can earn Kansas national and world recognition in this competitive field.