# FDA LFFM: Discipline-Chemistry - Analytical Track- Food Defense at CT AES

> **NIH FDA U19** · CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STA · 2020 · $325,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY- FOOD DEFENSE PROJECT 
FDA LFFM: Discipline-Chemistry; Analytical Track-Food Defense Testing at CT AES 
Project Summary- This proposal is being submitted in response to FOA-PAR-20-105 Laboratory 
Flexible Funding Model (LFFM)(U19). The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CT 
AES) has a 145-year history of food safety research, including 15 years as a member of the FDA 
Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Chemistry Cooperative Agreement Program 
(cCAP), and 8 years of funding under 4 different FDA ISO food safety CAPs. In addition to being 
the sole laboratory in CT providing chemical testing for the MFRPS and AFRPS, the CT AES 
participates in a broader surveillance and monitoring to ensure food safety in the state, both as part 
of FERN cCAP and with other state agencies. The goal of the proposed Food Defense Project is 
to acquire the necessary funding to provide laboratory surge capacity in the analysis of foods and 
food products for analyses related to chemical contamination, through intentional means. 
 CT AES has been a funded member of FERN cCAP since program inception in 2005. Our 
activities in FERN have been extensive, including activation during a number of emergency 
responses, surveillance assignments, surge response, PTs and challenge exercises, 
capacity/capability exercises, method development, matrix extension, training course development 
and teaching, and NPO assistance on a range of matters. The Research Strategy associated with 
this Project highlights CT AES past activities with regard to Food Defense, which includes both 
FERN and state-level activities. The Strategy also details our plan to meet the 15 Aims that cross 
all Projects, as detailed in the FOA, as well as the Food Defense project-specific goals of providing 
laboratory surge capacity in the analysis of foods and food products for analyses related to 
chemical contamination, through intentional means. This will involve analyzing at least 75 
samples collected by FDA or an appropriate regulatory agency by a range of FERN methods 
targeting poisons/toxins and toxic heavy metals. 
 The CT AES has demonstrated the expertise, capability, and adaptability to fully meet the 
objectives of this FOA through our successful participation in a number of FDA CAPs, including 
FERN cCAP for 15 years. Receipt of this new award from FDA will significantly enhance the 
ability of the CT AES specifically, and CT in general, to meet the program goals laid out in the 
FOA, and as described by the President's Food Safety Working Group, the Partnership for Food 
Protection and the Food Safety Modernization Act. 
1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10170737
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007094-01
- **Recipient organization:** CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STA
- **Principal Investigator:** JASON C WHITE
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $325,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10170737

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10170737, FDA LFFM: Discipline-Chemistry - Analytical Track- Food Defense at CT AES (1U19FD007094-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10170737. Licensed CC0.

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