# Building testing capacity for past and current SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals with potential exposure to humans with COVID-19

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $83,739

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The goal of this proposal is to build testing capacity at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory (WVDL) to perform serology detection and whole genome sequencing of SARS-
CoV-2 from animal samples. We are requesting funding for the purchase of reagents and
equipment to validate the SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test kit (GenScript) as a
multi-species diagnostic serology assay, with specific focus on the detection of antibodies
against SARS-CoV-2 virus in companion animals. As part of a proposed Genomic Consortium,
we are requesting funds to purchase a QIAxcel Adnavced System (Qiagen) and a MinION
(Oxford Nanopore) Enhanced Pack to validate library preparation and sequencing kits for iSeq
(Illumina) and MinION for targeted SARS-CoV-2 sequencing. We will participate in the
development and validation of bioinformatics pipelines that will be made accessible to
veterinary diagnostic personnel to quickly and efficiently determine genomic lineages, and
develop a staff training and development program to maintain proficiency in sequencing and
to analyze the SARS-COV-2 genome. Together, we aim to have a validated multi-species
serological diagnostic assay and trained staff with streamline workflow for whole genome
sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in animal specimens, to increase our capacity and
capability to support diagnostic activities for the ongoing global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In turn,
the acquired equipment and training will help building WVDL’s readiness to response to
potentially other important future veterinary disease outbreaks that are important to human
food safety and animal welfare.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10449498
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007520-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Ailam Lee Lim
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $83,739
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10449498

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10449498, Building testing capacity for past and current SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals with potential exposure to humans with COVID-19 (1U18FD007520-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10449498. Licensed CC0.

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