# Discipline C - Radiochemistry - Capability/Capacity Development - Analytical Track - Capacity

> **NIH FDA U19** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2020 · $146,182

## Abstract

Abstract 
PROJECT EIGHT: Texas State Chemist Radiochemistry Capability/Capacity Development 
Plans for the OTSC-AAS radiochemistry food defense project include: 1) build additional 
capability and expand the national capacity in radiochemical analysis through purchased of a low 
background alpha/beta counting system and a liquid scintillation counter and 2) expand the 
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 scope to include the expanded testing capability. In 2019, OTSC conducted 
extensive preparations and allocated necessary budgets for the design and development of a new 
radiological lab to participate in the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). The agency 
applied and received a radioactive material (RAM) permit as part of the Texas A&M University 
(TAMU) Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) radiological license in September 2019. The 
agency currently has a Canberra Series 5 XLB gas proportional alpha/beta counter and two 
Canberra HPGe gamma spectrophotometers, two Ortec HPGe gamma spectrophotometers, and a 
Princeton gamma tech spectrophotometer. The agency developed and implemented operating 
and safety procedures to meet all regulatory requirements imposed by TAMU EHS, through their 
licenses with the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control and U Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission. As an outcome of this project, Texas animal food defense for 
radiological hazards will be strengthened and scope of ISO accreditation expanded resulting in 
capacity and capability increased and provide surge capacity for food regulatory agencies in the 
event of a radiological disaster. OTSC will also be better equipped participate in FDA requested 
annual surveillance activities to support and maintain readiness, participate in national security 
event exercises, maintain preparedness to rapidly respond to the suspected or confirmed 
intentional contamination event involving human or animal food and participate in testing 
associated with suspected or credible threats to the food and animal food supply where a 
radiological agent is suspected at the request of FDA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160670
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007097-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** TIMOTHY JOHN HERRMAN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $146,182
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160670

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160670, Discipline C - Radiochemistry - Capability/Capacity Development - Analytical Track - Capacity (1U19FD007097-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160670. Licensed CC0.

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