The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has reached a major milestone in 2025, recording the highest research investment in its history, according to its newly released 2025 Progress Report.
Launched in 2015 in response to the introduction of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), SHIC was established with funding from the Pork Checkoff through the National Pork Board. Its mission remains focused on preventing emerging and transboundary disease threats through global and domestic monitoring, coordinated research, and proactive disease preparedness.
Record Research Investment
SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder reports that 2025 marked the center’s largest annual research investment to date.
In 2025 alone, SHIC:
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Contracted just over $4.4 million in swine health research
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Funded 32 research projects
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Achieved the highest total research commitment since the organization’s inception
This investment reflects SHIC’s ongoing strategy of maximizing Pork Checkoff dollars through external partnerships.
Leveraging Checkoff Dollars
One of the standout highlights from the 2025 Progress Report is SHIC’s success in securing matching funds and external grants.
Between 2022 and 2025:
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SHIC secured over $5 million in external funding
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That equates to approximately 49 cents in external dollars for every $1 of Checkoff support
According to Dr. Niederwerder, this leveraging ability has allowed SHIC to:
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Align research priorities with federal funding opportunities
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Expand the scientific network working on swine health innovation
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Increase industry impact without increasing producer burden
By strategically combining Checkoff support with federal dollars, SHIC continues to strengthen the pork industry’s preparedness against foreign animal diseases and emerging health threats.
A Decade of Strategic Disease Preparedness
Since its founding, SHIC has focused on:
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Monitoring global disease risks
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Identifying emerging health threats
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Funding rapid-response and preventative research
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Strengthening biosecurity and hazard analysis frameworks
The 2025 Progress Report underscores how sustained investment and collaboration have positioned SHIC as a central hub for innovation in swine health research.
Producers and industry stakeholders can access the full 2025 Progress Report at swinehealth.org.
