**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROPOSED RESEARCH CAPITALIZES UPON STRENGTHS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE'S RESEARCH EXPERTISE, FACILITIES, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS IN TWO COMPLEMENTARY AREAS: AQUACULTURE/FISH HEALTH AND CELLULOSE NANOMATERIAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. THE GOAL OF THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A NEW, SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS GENERATION OF VACCINES FOR AQUACULTURE BY LEVERAGING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NOVEL NANOMATERIALS PRODUCED FROM RENEWABLE WOOD FIBER AS DEPOTS AND/OR ADJUVANTS IN VACCINE FORMULATIONS TO HELP MODULATE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF ATLANTIC SALMON IN A BIOCOMPATIBLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, AND COST EFFECTIVE MANNER. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) PREPARE AND CHARACTERIZE CELLULOSE NANOMATERIAL VACCINE FORMULATIONS, 2) EXAMINE THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE OF FARMED ATLANTIC SALMON VACCINATED WITH THE NOVEL VACCINE(S), 3) EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF THE NEW VACCINE(S) IN PROTECTING AGAINST A SELECTED PATHOGEN OF FARM RAISED ATLANTIC SALMON. PERFORMANCE OF THESE NEW FORMULATED CNM VACCINES FOR THE SPECIFIC SALMON PATHOGEN WILL ALSO BE COMPARED TO COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE VACCINES FOR THE OBJECTIVES 2 AND 3. THIS PROJECT IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO AFRI'S DISEASES OF AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS PROGRAM PRIORITY CODE A1211 WHICH PROMOTES DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL THROUGH VACCINE SOLUTIONS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE THERAPIES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.