# Microbiology: Analytical Track 1: Food Defense

> **NIH FDA U19** · MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH · 2020 · $125,000

## Abstract

SUMMARY: MICROBIOLOGY ANALYTICAL TRACK 1 (FOOD PROTECTION) 
The nation’s food supply has the potential to be weaponized: intentional adulteration of food with deadly 
pathogens or toxins could turn a widespread food distribution network into an efficient and potentially 
devastating harm-delivery system. The key protections against such acts of bioterrorism are food 
surveillance and efficient outbreak investigation. The core tenet of this large and multifaceted proposal is 
to contribute a comprehensive and integrated food protection laboratory hub to the Food 
Emergency Response Network (FERN) that is capable of analyzing many different foods across a 
diversity of threat priorities. Embracing the strategic shift from outbreak management to prevention 
through large volume sample testing, we recently integrated our extensive CLIA-certified anti-bioterrorism 
activities with our experienced FDA-certified Food Microbiology Laboratory. This proposal now seeks 
to sustain this capability by maintaining a state of readiness through testing of food samples using 
our robust methods, extensive technical capabilities, and the experienced Analysts of our Bioterrorism 
Laboratory. Activities within Microbiology Analytical Track 1 Food Protection will be purposefully focused 
to achieve the 15 general Specific Aims and 4 Track Specific Aims that were outlined in the PAR-20-105 
program announcement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174010
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007084-01
- **Recipient organization:** MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** SINISA URBAN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $125,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174010

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174010, Microbiology: Analytical Track 1: Food Defense (1U19FD007084-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174010. Licensed CC0.

---

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