Why academic collaboration will drive dollars to your business

In the face of changing climatic conditions, new and revolutionary arthropod and nematode pest management strategies are critically needed to support the growing human population.

Pioneers of research partnerships with industry, the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies (CAMTech) is a platform for innovative, interdisciplinary research linking industry efforts with government and academia.

Its research and innovation looks at effective management of arthropod pests that adversely affect agriculture, public health and food security.

CAMTech develops new tools to enable the effective transfer of knowledge from research to industries related to pest management, bringing forward solutions that reduce the impacts caused by feeding damage and by the transmission of diseases from arthropods to plants and humans.

Center members effectively translate novel discoveries from the center’s pre-competitive research and are able to develop strategies and applications of pest management in the field.

CAMTech has strong partnerships with industry leaders

CAMTech was established as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) in 2013 and has maintained unparalleled membership loyalty.

CAMTech’s interdisciplinary research team of faculty is located at the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky. Following its establishment as an IUCRC, CAMTech has paved the way for scientists and researchers to collaborate on research projects funded primarily by corporate partners.

Through strong academic collaborations, IUCRC programs have facilitated the direct transfer of university-developed ideas, research results, and technologies straight to industry to improve the competitive positioning and capacity of its members.

The IUCRCs provide the next generation of scientists with a broad, industry-oriented perspective. One third of CAMTech trainees go on to pursue careers within the industrial sector.

CAMTech drives pioneering research in pest management

The institute’s interdisciplinary research team has expertise in applying genomics, physiology, biochemistry, toxicology, and molecular biology to develop new methods and tools for integrated arthropod and nematode pest management.

CAMTech boasts state-of-the-art biotechnology facilities equipped for next-generation sequencing, small RNA analysis, high throughput screening, functional genomics, proteomics, and CRISPR technology.

Through cutting-edge research in RNA interference (RNAi), CAMTech has helped develop new applications and filled gaps in knowledge necessary to remove methodological roadblocks to rapid product development.

The combination of CAMTech’s fully equipped research facilities and its adept research team has provided the tools to broaden the effectiveness of RNAi to important insect pest targets.

Center research has also provided new insights into the suppression of mosquitos and bedbugs, novel tools for nematode assessment, and the application of new technologies to the pest management domain.

CAMTech’s study in RNA interference delves deep into the mechanisms of efficiency in pest management approaches

The center performed comparative analysis of dsRNA degradation, uptake, and processing in the Colorado potato beetle and fall armyworm to develop a deeper understanding of why RNAi works well in coleopteran insects but has only limited effects on lepidopteran and hemipteran insect pests.

These research findings provide member organisations with methods to study differential efficiency of RNAi among insects.

Research carried out by the center also explores the transport of dsRNA in lepidopteran and hemipteran insects to understand the mechanisms that will allow a broader application of RNAi in pest management.

CAMTech provides tools and information for management of pests of global importance

Both the fall armyworm (FAW) and beet armyworm (BAW) have a significant economic impact on agriculture and have an increasing global presence. The center worked on the discovery of novel RNA viruses from FAW and BAW, and carried out research to understand insect resistance by analysing frequency and dispersal of FAW resistance to Bt corn.

Research on nematodes includes development of a genomic toolkit to help explore the genetic diversity of soybean cyst nematode populations, and a novel visualization method to assess the impact of management products on nematode biology.

CAMTech is developing a highly skilled workforce for the pest management industry

CAMTech contributes to key developments through advanced, industrially-relevant research and by training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including underrepresented groups, toward continued advancement of the field.

Training within the center is designed to meet industry needs through programs for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars who seek employment within the arthropod and nematode pest management industry.

Mentors drawn from member organizations oversee each research project to maximize value for the industry.

Through their frequent and substantive interactions with industry partners, CAMTech guides its trainees to create a diverse, technologically savvy, and exceptionally skilled workforce.

Here is why you should join as a member

CAMTech is a unique establishment that brings together academic researchers and industry partners with a common interest in practical solutions for arthropod and nematode pest management.

By joining as a member for a fee or $55,000 a year, you will gain immediate access to tools and cutting-edge datasets produced specifically to improve the speed of product screening and development providing competitive advantage.

All members enjoy improved research and development efficiencies by leveraging research with a current 20:1 return on investment when university, NSF and memberships are considered.

When you join as a member, you are given the privilege of guiding the center’s priorities for research funding.

Additionally, all members have the opportunity to recruit from a pool of highly skilled personnel.

As a member you can also develop your own research collaborations with individual researchers and within the industry.

Join this webinar to learn more about the research carried out at CAMTech.