Traditional genetic approaches have been effectively used by the swine industry to enhance traits such as meat production, leanness, and reproductive traits. However, little progress has been made on improving animal health by selective breeding despite susceptibility to specific pathogens having a significant genetic component. Genomics offers the potential to identify new tools that can be used to improve swine health, well-being, and disease-resistance traits. This project will investigate the impact of host genetics on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) providing a model for genomic improvements in health. The project will apply a number of high throughput technologies including high density single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping, next-generation sequence analysis of gene expression and proteomic analysis of immune response after PRRS virus challenge. Additionally genomic selection tools will be developed. The team hopes that key research findings and tools can be used by industry to provide better diagnostics, biotherapeutics and vaccines to manage PRRS more successfully. This project will build a Canadian component to the existing international PRRS Host Genetics Consortium project thereby adding significant value to the Canadian industry and providing a significant leverage of Canadian funding.