# Vet-LIRN Capacity Building for Increased Sample Analysis (U18)

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2022 · $31,100

## Abstract

Abstract:
In 2007, some pets became ill and a few died as the result of consuming contaminated pet food. An
investigation revealed that the incident was due to melamine, an adulterant found in the contaminated
pet food. Melamine was also found in tainted animal feed that was used for farm animal and fish.
Some food animals that ate the tainted feed were processed into human food (1, 2). This event had
major implications for animal and human health. In recognition of the event and its consequences, the
Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) sought out cooperative agreements with veterinary diagnostic
laboratories to enable analysis of animal diagnostic samples and animal food/drug products in the
event that laboratory surge capacity resulting from large-scale outbreak or threat incident is needed.
Participating laboratories have increase surge capacity and have prepared for analysis related to
microbiological or chemical contamination, either through intentional or unintentional means. This
application is to continue the WVDL's commitment to this cooperative agreement. This consortium of
laboratories is useful for the detection and surveillance of animal feeds or other large-scale outbreaks,
so as to halt an event early and reduce consequences. Therefore, the goal is for the CVM to establish
rapid communication with veterinary diagnostic laboratories and increase the government's ability to
examine samples from animals adversely affected by contaminated or adulterated products.
Examination of such samples can contribute to overall food safety as animal food events could signal
potential issues in the human food system. This will be achieved by institutional capacity building that
includes methods standardization, training and proficiency testing of partner laboratories and
infrastructural enhancement through equipment and reagent purchase. The WVDL seeks to continue
to participate in this project. The University of Wisconsin (UW)- Madison, Wisconsin Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) is fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary
Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), and thus, has the personnel with necessary experience,
technical expertise and necessary infrastructure to accomplish the task described above with relative
ease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10415870
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006380-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicole A Aulik
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $31,100
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10415870

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10415870, Vet-LIRN Capacity Building for Increased Sample Analysis (U18) (5U18FD006380-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10415870. Licensed CC0.

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