**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** POULTRY IS A CRUCIAL ANIMAL PRODUCTION SECTOR THAT PROVIDES PRIME AND SUSTAINABLE HUMAN PROTEIN CONSUMPTION. INFECTIOUS DISEASES, HOWEVER, POSE A CONTINUED THREAT TO POULTRY PRODUCTION. AMONG THE MANY POULTRY DISEASES, MANAGING ENDEMICAVIAN HERPESVIRUSESIS ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAIN PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION. UNDERSTANDING THE INTRICATE BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION PATHWAYS OF THESE EVER-EVOLVING LARGE DNA VIRUSES IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK. IT REQUIRES LIFELONG RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY AREAS OF INVESTIGATION. THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS AND AVIAN HERPESVIRUS (MDAH) IS THE PREMIER CONFERENCE ON AVIAN HERPESVIRUS. THIS USDA NIFA GRANT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE PARTICIPATION OF LABORATORIES WORLDWIDE STUDYING AVIAN HERPES VIRUSES TO ATTEND THE SYMPOSIUM. FUNDS FROM THIS GRANT WILL DEFRAY MEETING REGISTRATION AND SOME OF THE LODGING COSTS FOR PARTICIPATING GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS. THROUGH THIS GRANT, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE 14TH SYMPOSIUM WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEW KNOWLEDGE AND A FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIAN HERPES VIROLOGISTS TO NOURISH NEW CONTACTS FOR FUTURE MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.?