History
The Animal Population Health Institute (APHI) was formed in February 2002 by Dr. Mo Salman. This Institute replaced two existing Colorado State University Centers -- Center of Veterinary Epidemiology and Animal Disease Surveillance Systems (CVEADSS) and the Center of Economically Important Infectious Animal Diseases (CEIIAD). The replacement of the two centers by the APHI served not only to consolidate both centers’ activities but also to provide a framework for the integration of additional research, service, and outreach programs.
CVEADSS, established in 1992, provided an initial structure for sharing information, expertise, and facilities among Colorado State University, collaborating institutions, and government agencies worldwide. CVEADSS has been a recognized reference center for the United Nations - Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the field of veterinary epidemiology and animal disease surveillance systems since its inception. This role continues with APHI. Furthermore, the broad mission of CVEADSS, which was to coordinate collaborative, multidisciplinary basic and applied research and to establish training activities in veterinary epidemiology, is integrated into APHI's research focus and programmatic activities.
In 1998, the allocation of federal funds for the purpose of coordinating research activities on economically important infectious animal diseases resulted in the establishment of CEIIAD. Before CEIIAD, no organization provided an arena for timely, multidisciplinary research that synthesized information and data to pilot an animal disease concern from its roots in basic science through the development of policy. Since its inception and initial funding, this unique center was continually on the forefront in addressing the most challenging questions in veterinary epidemiology, food safety, risk assessment, trade economics, and diagnostic strategies for infectious animal diseases. These activities continued when the roles of the CVEADSS and CEIIAD were consolidated by establishing APHI. At this time, CEIIAD was included as one of the core programs in the Institute and renamed the Program of Economically Important Infectious Animal Diseases (PEIIAD).
With this beginning in 2002, additional faculty members joined M.D. Salman within APHI and provided their research and outreach expertise in veterinary epidemiology, food animal/equine internal medicine, bacteriology, foreign animal /zoonotic diseases and biosecurity. In 2006, Dr. Salman stepped down as Institute Director and Dr. Paul S. Morley became the Director.