Seek Labs Secures $2 Million Federal Grant to Advance CRISPR-Based Avian Flu Therapeutic
Seek Labs, a private TechBio company developing a programmable disease response platform, has been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to create a novel, mutation-resistant therapeutic targeting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The funding is part of a broader federal strategy to combat the ongoing avian influenza crisis, which has disrupted poultry production, increased egg and poultry prices, and placed additional strain on the global food supply chain.
The award supports the development of a next-generation therapeutic built on Seek Labs’ proprietary Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP), a system designed to adapt in real time as viral threats evolve. By leveraging CRISPR-based molecular tools and AI-driven genomic intelligence, the company aims to deliver a pan-HPAI therapeutic capable of maintaining efficacy even as the virus mutates across species and geographic regions.
Addressing a Persistent and Evolving Threat
Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains a serious and evolving global threat. The virus spreads rapidly among domestic poultry and is capable of wiping out entire flocks within days, causing devastating economic consequences for farmers and the agricultural sector. Beyond poultry, recent outbreaks have demonstrated the virus’s ability to cross species barriers, including transmission to dairy cows, raising additional concerns about food safety, agricultural resilience, and potential public health implications.
“HPAI is a persistent, evolving threat with real consequences for food security, agricultural stability, and global health preparedness,” said Alison O’Mahony, Senior Vice President of Research at Seek Labs. “By pairing BioSeeker, our disease intelligence layer, with PTAP’s programmable design, we’re building a pan-HPAI therapeutic that is designed for viral evolution and remains effective as the virus evolves.”
The continued spread of HPAI has intensified calls for innovative solutions that go beyond traditional vaccines and reactive containment measures. Federal authorities are increasingly prioritizing proactive and adaptable technologies capable of anticipating and responding to viral evolution before it causes widespread disruption.
A Programmable Platform Designed for Viral Evolution
Unlike conventional therapeutics that target a specific viral strain, Seek Labs’ programmable platform is built to address the dynamic nature of rapidly mutating pathogens. At the core of the company’s approach is the integration of CRISPR-based molecular therapeutics with an AI-driven genomic intelligence engine.
This intelligence system continuously monitors viral genomic data in real time, identifying how the virus changes across outbreaks and regions. By analyzing patterns of mutation, the platform pinpoints genomic regions that remain conserved—areas of the virus that are less likely to change even as other parts mutate. These stable regions then become the primary targets for therapeutic intervention.
The CRISPR-based system is programmed to identify and disrupt these conserved genomic sequences, neutralizing the virus in a way that is less vulnerable to mutation-driven resistance. In essence, the therapeutic is not built for a single strain; it is engineered for viral evolution itself.
“As the world faces an accelerating emergence of disease—from natural pandemics to potential AI-generated threats—current response systems remain reactive, slow and unable to adapt as pathogens evolve,” said Jared Bauer, co-founder and CEO of Seek Labs. “At Seek Labs, we approach disease as a dynamic problem that requires an adaptable system. By converting biological information into data, our platforms can be programmed to target and respond to diseases faster than traditional approaches.”
This data-centric model reflects a broader shift in biotechnology toward programmable medicine, where biological threats are addressed with software-like adaptability and rapid iteration.
Economic and Food Security Implications
The impact of avian influenza extends far beyond animal health. In recent years, HPAI outbreaks have forced the culling of millions of birds, significantly reducing poultry inventories and driving volatility in egg and poultry prices. Supply chain disruptions have affected producers, retailers, and consumers alike, highlighting the vulnerability of global food systems to emerging pathogens.
The virus’s recent spillover into dairy cattle has added another layer of complexity. Although primarily an avian disease, cross-species transmission raises concerns about broader agricultural impacts and the possibility of further adaptation. Such developments underscore the need for coordinated surveillance and innovative countermeasures that can evolve alongside the virus.
By developing a mutation-resistant therapeutic, Seek Labs aims to contribute to long-term agricultural stability and reduce the frequency and severity of outbreak-related disruptions. A programmable therapeutic platform could complement existing biosecurity measures, vaccination campaigns, and surveillance programs, strengthening the overall resilience of the livestock sector.
Part of the $100 Million HPAI Grand Challenge
Seek Labs was selected through a competitive process under APHIS’s $100 million HPAI Grand Challenge, a multi-year initiative developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed to accelerate innovation across prevention strategies, vaccine development, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biosecurity infrastructure.
The Grand Challenge represents a comprehensive federal effort to move beyond short-term containment and toward durable, science-driven solutions. By supporting diverse research initiatives, the program seeks to strengthen national preparedness and ensure rapid response capabilities in the face of evolving viral threats.
Seek Labs’ selection underscores the federal government’s recognition of programmable and AI-enabled biotechnology platforms as a promising frontier in infectious disease response.
Cross-Border Collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
As part of the award, Seek Labs will collaborate closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), reinforcing the importance of international cooperation in managing transboundary animal diseases. The partnership reflects the reality that avian influenza does not respect national borders and requires coordinated surveillance and response strategies.
“Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to pose complex and evolving risks to animal health, food systems, and economic stability,” said Yohannes Berhane of CFIA. “Addressing a threat of this scale requires sustained research, scientific innovation, and cross-border collaboration. We are excited to be working alongside Seek Labs to address this ongoing threat.”
The award’s Principal Investigators include Douglas Gladue, Vice President of Veterinary Pharma at Seek Labs, and Yohannes Berhane, Head of the Avian Disease Research Unit at CFIA. Their collaboration will focus on integrating advanced genomic insights with veterinary research expertise to ensure that the therapeutic platform is both scientifically robust and operationally relevant.
This cross-border partnership strengthens surveillance capabilities and reinforces the shared commitment of the United States and Canada to safeguarding animal health and food systems.
Building a Proactive Disease Response Ecosystem
Seek Labs’ approach signals a broader transformation in how infectious diseases are addressed. Rather than reacting to outbreaks after they occur, programmable platforms aim to anticipate viral shifts and deploy countermeasures more rapidly. By treating biological threats as data-driven challenges, the company envisions a future where therapeutics can be updated and deployed with speed comparable to software patches.
With federal backing and international collaboration, Seek Labs is positioning its PTAP platform as a foundational technology for combating not only avian influenza but also future emerging diseases. As pathogens continue to evolve, adaptable and mutation-resistant solutions may become essential components of global health security.
Through this $2 million grant, Seek Labs takes a significant step toward redefining how the agricultural and public health sectors respond to one of the most persistent viral threats facing global food systems today.
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