# Building an Integrated Laboratory System to Advance the Safety of Human and Animal Food

> **NIH FDA U2F** · ASSOCIATION /PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES · 2024 · $500,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The purpose of this proposal from the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
is to support and enhance the capabilities of state human and animal food (HAF) testing
laboratories that engage in surveillance and response activities associated with
foodborne hazards, including foodborne outbreak investigations.
APHL will:
 • Build a competent HAF Laboratory workforce by developing and delivering
 trainings, workshops, seminars and other educational materials, and a
 bioinformatics fellowship
 • Integrate the HAF Laboratory system by planning and hosting high quality
 conferences and meetings related to the LFFM disciplines, the GenomeTrakr
 network, and NARMS
 • Manage support programs for ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation by providing
 direct technical assistance to FERN laboratories and to non-FDA funded HAF
laboratories
 • Support Laboratory Information Management System and ORA Data Exchange
implementation
 • Enhance and maximize HAF laboratory participation in the GenomeTrakr network
 and the Partnership for Food Protection IT Workgroup and Laboratory Science
Workgroup
 • Promote information sharing between strategic partners, improve quality
 assurance efforts and build mutual reliance in an integrated food safety system
 • Utilize a diversity procurement strategy for goods and services related to this
agreement
Through these efforts, we will meet individual laboratory and broad-based training
needs around ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory accreditation, laboratory procedures,
data transfer (to NCBI and FDA data systems), document control, quality management
systems, continuous improvement, sample collection, and risk assessment. We will plan
and host forums for LFFM food testing laboratories and GenomeTrakr laboratories. We
will foster collaborations with the Partnership for Food Protection around scientific and
data sharing goals. Measurement of success will be against stated metrics, refined in
consultation with the funding agency.
As the non-profit association representing state and local laboratories that conduct HAF
testing for over 50 years, APHL can efficiently advance the goals of this Cooperative
Agreement. Leveraging our experience will better position FDA to work in partnership
with state and local authorities to build an Integrated Food Safety System and achieve
national public health goals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10974594
- **Project number:** 1U2FFD008200-01
- **Recipient organization:** ASSOCIATION /PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES
- **Principal Investigator:** Shari Shea
- **Activity code:** U2F (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $500,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-01-01 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10974594

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10974594, Building an Integrated Laboratory System to Advance the Safety of Human and Animal Food (1U2FFD008200-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10974594. Licensed CC0.

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