PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this proposed renewal is to affirm the willingness of the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NDSU VDL) to continue participation in the FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network Cooperative Agreement Program for Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories. Renewal of the cooperative agreement will continue to strengthen the laboratory’s ability to develop additional assays aimed at detection of toxins and pathogens in animal feed and tissues and enable increased sample throughput capabilities. These Cooperative agreements are intended to: 1. Strengthen coordination of veterinary diagnostic laboratory efforts as related to the national food safety system by supporting research and capacity building during case investigations, including chemical, microbiological, pathological, or other complex analyses to help determine cases of potential adulteration or contamination of animal foods or animal drugs. 2. Support validation and harmonization of analytical methods and equipment platforms, supporting research into questions arising during case investigations. 3. Strengthen coordination of veterinary diagnostic laboratory efforts as related to the national food safety system, as put forth in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) by developing the Vet-LIRN laboratory Network's ability to investigate potential animal foodborne illness outbreaks. 4. Support training, quality assurance processes, proficiency exercises, and data sharing to support development of veterinary diagnostic laboratories. 5. Support laboratory efforts to obtain accreditation (AAVLD, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation) or adopt a quality system comparable to international standards.