The Athens Location consists of 2 sites: Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center (RRC); Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL). There are ten (10) Research Management Units with twenty-nine Research CRIS Projects.

RRC and SEP, are located within the research park adjacent to the University of Georgia.

RRC - The mission at the RRC is twofold; ensuring and improving the safety of food and feed, and ensuring and improving the quality and economic value of food and crops.

• Quality Assessment Research Unit
• Poultry Microbiological Safety Research
• Poultry Processing and Swine Physiology Research Unit
• Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research
• Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance
• Egg Safety and Quality

SEP - SEP conducts research on emerging and exotic infectious poultry diseases and food borne pathogens of people. The laboratory is specially designed and operated to contain highly infectious diseases of poultry where they may be studied safely, posing no threat to the poultry industry or people. Observance of proper personnel procedures, usage of personnel safety equipment and correct design and operation of facilities all contribute to the bio-security and bio-safety of the laboratory.

• Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research Unit
• Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research Unit