Novartis Animal Health of Greensboro, North Carolina, has donated $225,000 to the Oklahoma State University Foundation to become the first industry partner of the university's National Center for Veterinary Parasitology, the company announced January 6.

The grant will help make the centre operational by providing support for laboratory renovations and related start-up costs, according to the foundation, OSU's principal fund-raising organization. Renovations are scheduled to begin in 2009 and graduate studies in 2010.

As a founding partner, Novartis will help guide and develop the centre as a member of its advisory board and interact with graduate students and residents in training.

Ultimately, OSU sees the centre becoming a national resource for diagnostic testing that will help train clinically oriented veterinary parasitologists.

"In the last several years, there has been a decline of veterinary parasitology training in the US," said Michael Lorenz, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, dean of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. "The NCVP is an opportunity for us to continue training in the discipline of veterinary parasitology and to provide a source for national diagnostic testing."

Novartis Animal Health researches, develops and commercializes leading animal treatments that meet the needs of pet owners, farmers and veterinarians. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and present in almost 40 countries, Novartis Animal Health employs about 2,700 people worldwide.