University awarded US grant to work on Valley fever vaccine

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The University of Arizona is getting a $4.8 million National Institutes of Health grant for research work aimed at developing a Valley fever vaccine for dogs and later possibly humans.

The university's announcement Thursday says its Valley Fever Center for Excellence is working on the project with Colorado State University and Anivive Lifesciences Inc., a Long Beach, California-based biotechnology company.

Valley fever is a sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by spores found in soil. Most cases occur in central California and Arizona.