Winter 2026 Newsletter (pdf)
Messages from the Previous and New Director
Greetings from CORE. I know many of you have heard the news that I have recently accepted the position of Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs. I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that come with this new role. It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with each of you, and all the great people and programs that we have built at CORE! I am very pleased that Dr. Natalia Cernicchiaro has accepted the CORE Director position. Natalia possesses the leadership ability to guide the CORE team to new levels of success, and achieve great things with CORE in the future. In my new leadership role within the College, and continued involvement in CORE research, I look forward to working with you in the new year and beyond.
David Renter, Previous CORE Director
I am honored to step into the role of Director of CORE. I am deeply grateful for the leadership and vision that have shaped CORE to date, and I am committed to building on this strong foundation. In the coming months, my priorities will focus on supporting our talented team, strengthening collaborative research across disciplines, and expanding our impact through rigorous, data-driven outcomes research. I look forward to working closely with our advisory council, collaborators, faculty, students, staff, and sponsors, to advance CORE’s mission and to continue delivering science that improves animal and public health.
Natalia Cernicchiaro, New CORE Director
Tools of the Trade
Economic Tools for Feedlot Mortality Management – Making Complex Economics Accessible
CORE is developing practical economic decision-support tools to help feedlot producers evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mortality reduction strategies. In collaboration with K-State Agricultural Economists, Dr. Lucas Horton is leading development of the Mortality Breakeven Calculator, which helps producers estimate what they can afford to invest in interventions based on their specific operation and market conditions. This work helps translate complex economic modeling into actionable, real-world management decisions. Below is a screenshot of the calculator.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Cattle Movement Risk Models
Supported by Dr. Mike Sanderson’s modeling efforts and implemented as a Shiny app by Dr. Andrea Dixon, the FMD Cattle Movement Risk Model is an interactive decision-support tool to estimate the risk of cattle movements between herds or through auction markets during an FMD outbreak. Users enter situation-specific parameters and receive risk estimates to support response decisions. This tool is designed for use by state animal health officials and consulting veterinarians.
Advancing Preparedness for Mosquito-Borne Threats
CORE has developed several publications around mosquito-borne diseases that provide valuable insights for agencies, policymakers, and disease modelers.
To stay up-to-date on CORE news, events, and recent publications, please visit our CORE website or follow the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology on LinkedIn.