Massachusetts lab food safety testing program
Funded at Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health · NIH-11418711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A state public health lab is funding enhanced testing of food safety to better detect pathogens in human and animal foods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $147,870 |
| NIH project number | 5U19FD008582-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to individual patients; this grant targets public health testing systems and food supply safety.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not involved in food production or testing may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This funded program strengthens food-safety testing capabilities at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory, focusing on risk-based, prevention-focused methods. It plans to collect samples through collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Resources and expand ISO 17025-accredited testing to include more pathogens and whole-genome sequencing. The work will involve processing environmental swabs from human food production sites and testing animal food products for multiple pathogens, with data shared in national surveillance databases. The goal is to improve detection and response to foodborne threats to protect people and animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to faster identification of foodborne pathogens and safer food supplies for consumers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous food-safety surveillance efforts have improved outbreak detection and response in other states.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fortes, Esther — Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
- Study coordinator: Fortes, Esther
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.