The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has committed $350,125 for Iowa State University research to advance research of the role vitamin A plays in boosting the immune system’s response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The virus is a leading cause of respiratory disease in infants and young children worldwide. Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutrition-related health problems in the world. Recent global estimates from the World Health Organization suggest more than 190 million preschool-age children are biochemically vitamin A deficient. The study by the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine will focus on bovine RSV, which is a significant cause of morbidity in young cattle and is similar to the human RSV infection.