# Disclipine D- Special Projects -  Analytical Tracks 1-3 - Sample Collection

> **NIH FDA U19** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2020 · $35,000

## Abstract

Abstract 
PROJECT 9: SPECIAL PROJECTS– TRACK 1 – SAMPLE COLLECTION 
The Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service of OTSC will collect 1100 animal food 
surveillance samples under the microbiology and chemistry disciplines. Funds will be used to 
cover investigator expense associated with sample collection. The Texas Feed and Fertilizer 
Control Service (FFCS) of OTSC is the state regulatory entity responsible for regulating animal 
feed. The FFCS is comprised of 14 field investigators who will collect and submit 11000 
samples per year (500 for Project Two- microbiological surveillance for animal food and 600 for 
Project Six – chemical surveillance for animal food) using official procedures and a chain-of- 
custody. The plan of work is developed by the Texas State Chemist (Tim Herrman – Project PI) 
and Associate Director (Mary Sasser – key personnel). Samples will be received at the OTSC 
laboratory and a continuation of the chain-of-custody will result in official sample results that 
can be utilized to remove contaminated product from the market. The field is organized into 
three teams. The field staff collect samples (SOP F0015) and perform inspections and 
investigations (SOP F0018) under state and federal authority. Product that is contaminated will 
be removed from the market under the direction of the Associate Director of Compliance (Ben 
Jones –key personnel) and the field investigators under the direction of the Associate Director of 
Field Operations. The AAS Senior Quality Manager (Megan Rooney) will serve as a Co-I and 
oversee conformance to the OTSC chain-of-custody protocol and sample receipt. The 
professional development (training and education) of the field staff is documented in alignment 
with AFRPS standard 2, 11 of the field staff meeting advanced investigator status and all 
qualified to collect samples using approved sampling methods and submit samples following 
chain-of-custody procedures outlined in the feed sample collection SOP (F0015). As an outcome 
of this project, projects involving animal food surveillance for microbiological and chemical 
hazards will be implemented successfully.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160671
- **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:** $35,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160671

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160671, Disclipine D- Special Projects -  Analytical Tracks 1-3 - Sample Collection (1U19FD007097-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160671. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*