CVM Vet-LIRN Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Program (U18) Clinical Trials

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications from institutions/ organizations for inclusion into FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network Cooperative Agreement Program for Veterinary Diagnostic laboratories. This cooperative agreement program is intended to build domestic laboratory capacity as put forth in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), by developing the Vet-LIRN laboratory Network capabilities and capacity to investigate potential animal foodborne illness outbreaks. The Cooperative agreements are intended to:

1. Strengthen coordination of veterinary diagnostic laboratory efforts as related to the national food safety system

2. Support training, quality assurance processes, proficiency evaluations, data sharing to support national capacity/capability development.

3. Support harmonizing analytical methods and equipment platforms. 4. Support laboratory efforts to obtain accreditation (AAVLD, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation) or adopt a quality system comparable to international standards.

5. Provide testing results during case investigations of potential animal food or drug adulteration or contamination.