is limited to 250 words. The names and affiliated organizations of all Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) should be listed in addition to the title of the project. The summary should be a self-contained, specific description of the activity to be undertaken and should focus on: overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to accomplish project goal(s); and relevance of the project to the goals of the program. The importance of a concise, informative Project Summary cannot be overemphasized. Title: Strengthening veterinary diagnostic laboratory efforts as related to the national food system PD: Tewari, Deepanker Institution: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory CO-PD Thirumalapura Nagaraja Institution: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory CO-PD: PD/PI 3 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 4 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 5 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 6 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: CO-PD: PD/PI 7 Name (Last, First, MI) Institution: The 2016-2017 LIRN/FDA award to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory will help with (1) Participation in FDA/Vet-LIRN sample analysis. (2) Providing analysis for laboratory standardization. (3) Participation in additional small-scale method development and/or method validation and matrix extension work. (4) Training employees for quality assurance and technical improvements This file MUST be converted to PDF prior to attachment in the electronic application package.
1. Participation in FDA/Vet-LIRN sample analysis Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory will participate in sample analysis in the areas of expertise available from cases related to consumer complaints and FDA/Vet-LIRN surveillance and emergency response as required in this Cooperative Agreement. The laboratory has the expertise, trained personnel and state-of-the-art technology for isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. The laboratory routinely tests diagnostic specimens submitted by clients and specimens derived from autopsy cases submitted to the laboratory for animal disease diagnosis. 2. Providing analysis for laboratory standardization Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory will participate in proficiency tests and provide sample analysis for standardization of methods in the areas of expertise available in the laboratory. The laboratory had participated in the FDA/Vet?LIRN Proficiency Test: Detecting Salmonella in Dog Feces in March 2015 and secured a performance score of 100%. 3. Participation in additional small-scale method development and/or method validation and matrix extension work Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory will participate in the FDA/Vet-LIRN new method development and/or validation and matrix extension work in the areas of expertise available in the laboratory. This will involve working with other FDA/Vet-LIRN network laboratories and providing sample analysis, data collection and analysis. In addition, we propose to work on developing the following new methods for in-house use and later adoption by the FDA/Vet-LIRN Laboratories during the funding period. a. Validation of testing methods for the detection Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter and Listeria in feed and environmental samples b. Development of a multiplex Luminex-based test method for the detection of potential zoonotic agents in dog feces. 4. Training employees for quality assurance and technical improvements Participation in the proficiency tests and method development and validation projects through FDA/Vet-LIRN will facilitate our lab personnel training in new techniques and methods. In addition, FDA/Vet-LIRN funding mechanism will help participation of the lab personnel in the training opportunities available at national laboratories such as Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
