Dr. Hewson, Assistant Executive Director and R&D Manager of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, shared her thoughts on winning this prestigious research award.

The award honors the lead author of the best original research paper published over the past two years in the WVPA journal Avian Pathology. The award was established in 1973 in memory of Dr. Bart Rispens, who is known worldwide for the development of the CVI-988 vaccine to protect poultry against Marek’s disease. Marek’s disease affects young chickens all over the world and can result in tumors, paralysis and even death.

MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada) has sponsored the Dr. Bart Rispens Research award since 2007 and has recently committed to supporting the award until 2025.

“MSD Animal Health is pleased to present the Dr. Bart Rispens Research Award in partnership with the WVPA,” said Dr. Rik Koopman, global technical director, MSD Animal Health. “We are committed to improving the health and performance of poultry, and are proud to support and honor researchers that are making important advances in poultry health.”