FDA FERN Cooperative Agreement Program (U18) PAR-09-215Proposal AbstractThe Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Microbiology Laboratoryseeks funding through the FDA FERN Cooperative Agreement Program for $249,943 tobecome a FERN-funded laboratory. The Microbiology Laboratory currently participatesin two food testing programs, one through our agency's Food Safety Program and onethrough a Cooperative Agreement with USDA (Microbiological Data Program). In 2008our Laboratory conducted over 16,000 individual tests on over 5,000 food and dairysamples. Because of our extensive food testing experience, we feel the WSDAMicrobiology Laboratory is ideally positioned to become a FERN-funded laboratory andbe successful in taking on the work associated with this Cooperative Agreement. Inaddition, this Cooperative Agreement fits ideally with WSDA's Mission to serve thepeople of Washington by supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumerand environmental protection.Our analysts are knowledgeable and experienced in multiple food matrices, pathogens,toxins and testing environments. Also our Laboratory has the necessary space tosupport this additional work and if funded, we propose to hire a microbiologist dedicatedto adopting FERN methods and getting them validated in our laboratory environment.If our FERN proposal is accepted we are willing and able to address all three projectareas incorporated in this Cooperative Agreement: Participate in FDA/FERN sample analysis; Provide analytical data for potential regulatory utilization; and Participate in small-scale method development, method validation and matrix extension work as determined by FERN NPO.WSDA is eager to become a FERN-funded laboratory and be an active participant inassisting FERN and FDA in protecting public health and the nation's food supply fromboth natural and intentional threats.
FDA FERN Cooperative Agreement Program (U18) PAR-09-215 fits well with Washington State Department of Agriculture's Mission to promote consumer and environmental protection. The WSDA Microbiology Laboratory protects public health by conducting routine surveillance testing of food and dairy products and provides surge testing services to meet the needs in emergency foodborne illness outbreaks. The WSDA Microbiology Laboratory, at the direction of FDA FERN, commits to testing food samples in the event of a national food illness, whether from natural or intentional threats.
