# Vet-LIRN Network Capacity-Buildinng Projects - Implementation of automated liquid handler for high throughput MALDI-TOF and PCR testing

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2020 · $58,169

## Abstract

Project Summary
The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (VDC) is a full service veterinary diagnostic laboratory. The
VDC is fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, is a
National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1 laboratory and is a certificated laboratory
for National Poultry Improvement Plan testing. The laboratory processes over 300,000 specimens
annually, conducting a variety of tests including ELISA, serum virus neutralization, AGID,
hemagglutination, polymerase chain reaction, bacterial isolation from field specimens and identification,
MALDI‐ TOF based identification and characterization of bacterial isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility
testing, fluorescent antibody tests, immunohistochemistry, histopathology, and necropsy exams. In
order to be more efficient in processing this large caseload, it is important that the laboratory is
equipped with state‐of‐the‐art instrumentation and automation for high throughput testing to maintain
capacity. This is particularly true in the event of facing high volume testing while participating with a
response of a foreign animal disease outbreak or emergency response. The proposal is to purchase an
instrument which would be used to automate and enhance capacity for repetitive tasks particularly for
set‐up of MALDI TOF plates, and a variety of molecular or other tests with low volume and precise liquid
handling requirements

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10215140
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007240-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce W Brodersen
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $58,169
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-20 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10215140

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10215140, Vet-LIRN Network Capacity-Buildinng Projects - Implementation of automated liquid handler for high throughput MALDI-TOF and PCR testing (1U18FD007240-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10215140. Licensed CC0.

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