If OARDC is already studying plant and animal diseases, why does it need a new stand-alone building?
PAAR will allow OARDC to conduct research on diseases of plants and animals (such as soybean rust and certain viruses) that it cannot handle at its current facilities because of federal safety restrictions, even though OARDC researchers have the expertise to work on such diseases. Having this facility will allow OARDC scientists to compete for additional federal grants and hire talented faculty whose work requires BSL-3 and BSL-3 Ag laboratories. Overall, PAAR will enable OARDC and The Ohio State University to continue to meet industry and state expectations, providing proactive answers to impending disease problems facing Ohio’s plant and animal industries rather than being reactive once the problems occur.
