Detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria in store-bought meat and seafood

NARMS Cooperative Agreement Program to Strengthen Antibiotic Resistance in Retail Food Specimens

NIH-funded research Wadsworth Center · NIH-11390354

This project looks for antibiotic-resistant Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Aeromonas, and Vibrio in retail meats and seafood to help protect people who buy and eat these foods.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWadsworth Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Menands, United States)
Project IDNIH-11390354 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We will buy meat and seafood from selected grocery stores and test those samples in the public health lab for Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Aeromonas, and Vibrio. Testing will use microbiology methods plus whole genome sequencing and serotyping to identify resistant strains. Isolates from positive samples will be shared with FDA and partner labs for additional testing and comparison to national surveillance data. The work aims to increase detection and information-sharing about antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the retail food supply so health officials can respond more effectively.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who buy, prepare, or eat retail meat and seafood in New York State, especially those at higher risk for severe foodborne illness, are most directly affected by this work.

Not a fit: People with infections unrelated to food or those living far outside the program's geographic focus may not see direct benefits from this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help prevent foodborne illnesses and guide safer food-handling advice and policies by revealing where resistant bacteria are appearing in the food supply.

How similar studies have performed: National programs like NARMS have previously tracked resistant foodborne bacteria successfully, and this project builds on those established surveillance methods.

Where this research is happening

Menands, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.