# FDA Vet-LIRN Site Application –AgriLife and the Texas  A&M University System

> **NIH FDA U18** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2021 · $45,450

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Foodborne illness causes significant morbidity and mortality each year in the United States.
Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria, all cause infections in people and animals. Although
human foodborne illness is usually associated with the consumption of contaminated food, pets
can be direct and indirect sources of bacterial pathogens. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) Veterinary Laboratory Integrated Response Network (Vet-LIRN) Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory Cooperative Agreement Program is designed to promote human and animal health
by providing scientific information and building laboratory capacity for routine and emergency
response for investigation of outbreaks and to investigate problems with animal feeds and
drugs. Detection of outbreaks requires the ability to collect samples from geographically diverse
areas. Texas is home to 25 million people, second only to California in human population, and
leads the nation in horse and cattle populations. It is therefore important to understand the
dynamics of foodborne diseases among animals and people within the State of Texas. Texas
A&M University is home to the only College of Veterinary Medicine in Texas. The Texas A&M
University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory currently
serves as a FDA Vet-LIRN Laboratory. Members of the laboratory have helped to develop Vet-
LIRN methods for detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni, participated in proficiency
testing, and collecting and analyzing samples as part of Vet-LIRN investigations. The objective
of this proposal is to provide infrastructure in Texas to support collection and testing of samples
from pets to support the FDA Vet-LIRN mission of protecting human and animal health by
prompt recognition of outbreaks and testing of samples associated with outbreaks as well as
surveillance assignments as needed by the Vet-LIRN Program Office.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10189615
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006171-05
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara D. Lawhon
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $45,450
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10189615

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10189615, FDA Vet-LIRN Site Application –AgriLife and the Texas  A&M University System (5U18FD006171-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10189615. Licensed CC0.

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