John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory

The John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) is Oregon’s highly regarded research laboratory designed to support pioneering research with freshwater fish, amphibians and invertebrates. The 9000 square feet facility offers both wet and dry labs and technical support to research scientists from OSU, private industry, state agencies and national and international institutions.

Named for Dr. John L. Fryer, the founder of the fish disease research program at OSU, this invaluable aquatic animal health facility also offers hands-on learning opportunities and public education services to K-12 students, teachers, researchers and members of the community.

Services include research support on vaccine development, disease mechanisms, feed supplement trials, hatchery--wild behavior, gut microbiome, climate change impacts and more.

Oregon State Microbiome Initiative (OMBI)

Microbiome research is poised to transform human health and society. The Oregon State Microbiome Initiative (OMBI) — our microbiome research and education program — is at the forefront of research on the health impacts of microbial communities. An interdisciplinary team of scientists investigate the biodiversity of microbiomes and interactions with a diverse array of environments to deliver on the promise of meaningful social applications.

Services include bioinformatic methods, microbiome data analysis, graduate and undergraduate training and education.

High Throughput Microbial Cultivation Lab

Bacteria are among the most numerous organisms on our planet, and the vast majority have never been cultured. Understanding their activities is critical to the development of local and global geochemical models, as well as socially relevant issues such as bioremediation.

Our new experimental facility uses robotics, flow cytometry and cell arraying techniques to culture and identify cells at the very low growth rates and nutrient concentrations that are typical of natural ecosystems. Our group has cultured at least 25 new bacterial strains which we hope will provide opportunities to test hypotheses about cellular functions that arise from genome analysis.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Fish Health Services is a diagnostic laboratory servicing Oregon's 34 public fish hatcheries, as well as providing testing for an additional 10-15 private aquaculture facilities and pathogen surveys of wild fish in the state. We assist ODFW fish culture and fish research and management programs in an effort to reduce the impacts of disease on fish populations.

Located on the Oregon State University campus on the 5th Floor of Nash Hall, we provide support and diagnostic services, including whirling disease testing, DNA, virological, bacteriological, and serological testing plus general fish health screening. In addition to our Corvallis lab, we also have a lab in Madras and LaGrande at Eastern Oregon University.

Our collaborations with OSU over the past 50 years have resulted in many major advances in the field of fish health. Our expertise in fish diseases and open exchange of information with OSU faculty and students has been mutually advantageous. We welcome students into the lab to get a first-hand look at microbiology in action.