Examples of funded STSMs focussing on animal health include the following: the characterization of circulating in comparison to pulmonary serum amyloid A protein in pigs with respiratory disease; proteomic analysis of serum from cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis; analysis of biomarkers of disease in gilthead seabream; proteomic analysis of young in comparison to old osteoarthritic equine cartilage; and proteomic analysis of a range of pathogens, including zoonotics, to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of infection. The gene discussed is SAA1; the disease is infection.