FDA LFFM- Continuation of human and animal food/feed programs at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station - PROJECT SUMMARY- OVERALL CT AES LFFM 2025 Project Summary- This proposal, entitled “FDA LFFM- Continuation of human and animal food/feed programs at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station” is being submitted in response to RFA-FD-25-007 Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM). Our proposal includes 5 different Chemistry projects encompassing Food Defense, Human Food Product Testing, Animal Food Product Testing, Capacity/Capability Development, and Method Development/Validation. The level of analysis in the Human and Animal Food Product Testing will also make available Maintenance Funding ($225,000). Each Project is described in its own Component within Assist, as well as Overall Component. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CT AES) has a 150-year history of food safety research, including 20 years as a member of the FDA Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Chemistry Cooperative Agreement Program (cCAP), 8 years of funding under 4 different FDA ISO food safety CAPs, and 5 years of funding as part of the 2020-2025 FDA LFFM Program. In addition to being the sole laboratory in CT providing chemical testing for the MFRPS program, the CT AES participates a broader surveillance and monitoring program to ensure the safety of food in the state. The primary goal of the current LFFM Proposal is to acquire the necessary funding to enhance the capacity and capabilities of CT human and animal food testing laboratories in support of an integrated food safety system. Specifically, CT AES will conduct human and animal food product sample testing in the area of chemistry and will engage in the development special projects that would support and expand that testing. This project will strengthen and improve FDA’s efforts to prevent foodborne illnesses and minimize foodborne exposures through building a nationally integrated laboratory science system. The funding will equip CT with additional resources that can be employed to build and increase sample throughput capacity within their state The CT AES has demonstrated the expertise, capability, and adaptability to fully meet the objectives of this RFA through our successful participation in a number of FDA CAPs, including several specifically targeting food and feed product testing. Receipt of this new award from FDA will significantly enhance the ability of the CT AES specifically, and CT in general, to meet the program goals laid out in the RFA to support an integrated food safety program, and to meet goals as described by the President’s Food Safety Working Group, the Partnership for Food Protection and the Food Safety Modernization Act. 1
