# Vet-LIRN, Enhancement of Capacity of Response to Veterinary Microbiological Investigations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

> **NIH FDA U18** · VA ST DEPT/ AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SRVS · 2024 · $30,000

## Abstract

Project Summary Abstract
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is seeking funding
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under PAR-22-063 to support the Department's
Office of Laboratory Services, Lynchburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory (RAHL)'s
capability to rapidly detect, identify and enumerate pathogens in animals, animal feed, drugs
and other substrates. The amount of funding requested is $ 30,000.
The VDACS, Office of Laboratory Services, Lynchburg RAHL meets all requirements to be
eligible for this funding. The Lynchburg RAHL is a participating laboratory in the Veterinary
Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN). It has met the requirements for
Vet-LIRN participation, successfully completing several proficiency tests for microbiological
testing since becoming a member laboratory in 2015. The microbiological testing that falls under
the Vet-LIRN mission is accredited to ISO 17025 standards by the American Association for
Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). The Lynchburg RAHL utilizes the USALims Laboratory
Information Management System, which can integrate electronic reporting and data summaries
into forms that can be utilized by the Vet-LIRN Program Office (PO), thereby providing rapid
testing results during case investigations of potential animal, food or drug adulteration or
contamination.
Funding from this opportunity is being requested to widen, improve and develop testing
capabilities within the Lynchburg RAHL that would make it better able to respond to both routine
surveillance assignments with the Vet-LIRN, as well as to larger scale animal/food/drug
emergencies requiring enhanced surge capacity. The Lynchburg RAHL would upgrade obsolete
testing equipment and methods for microbiological identification of organisms, for detecting
antimicrobial susceptibilities of organisms, for supporting testing of animal/feed/drug substrates,
and for expanding the existing capabilities of testing. In addition, it would add the capability for
enumeration of bacteria, yeasts and molds in animal/feed/drug substrates. This increased
capability would also allow for participation in additional projects and/or method validation as
determined by the Vet-LIRN PO. Other activities would include using funds to further efforts to
adhere and maintain its A2LA accreditation status, as well as take advantage of training
opportunities and Vet-LIRN meetings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10845307
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006170-08
- **Recipient organization:** VA ST DEPT/ AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SRVS
- **Principal Investigator:** Jessica N. Walters
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $30,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10845307

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10845307, Vet-LIRN, Enhancement of Capacity of Response to Veterinary Microbiological Investigations in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (5U18FD006170-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10845307. Licensed CC0.

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