Editor’s Note: The above video originally aired on June 15.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several Texas universities and research institutions have been selected to receive federal funding aimed at preventing the spread of the New World Screwworm, a parasite that can cause serious harm to livestock and wildlife.

The announcement comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded roughly $105 million nationwide through its New World Screwworm Grand Challenge, a program designed to support new tools and technologies for detecting, controlling and eradicating the parasite.

According to the Governor’s Office, Texas recipients include Texas Tech University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and other Texas A&M entities.

The USDA launched the grant competition in January as part of a broader effort to strengthen the nation’s defenses against the parasite. The agency said it received 226 applications seeking roughly $664 million before selecting 40 projects for funding.

The funded projects will focus on a range of strategies, including improving sterile insect techniques, developing new traps and lures, creating treatments, expanding AI-powered surveillance and using drones for monitoring efforts.

“Texas is no stranger to the New World screwworm threat and we are prepared to push this danger out of our state for good,” the governor’s office said in a statement announcing the awards.

MAP: Where have New World screwworm cases been reported in Texas?

There are 11 confirmed cases of screwworm in Texas so far, and one in New Mexico, according to the USDA.

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