Massachusetts plan to strengthen antibiotic resistance surveillance in meat and seafood
Official title: Massachusetts NARMS Cooperative Agreement Program to Strengthen Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens
Funded at Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health · NIH-11419467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A state public health lab in Massachusetts is funding a program to monitor antibiotic-resistant bacteria in raw meat and seafood sold to consumers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| 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 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $185,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01FD007753-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study; no direct patient recruitment.
✕Less likely to help
Direct clinical benefit to individual patients is not the focus of this program.
What this research studies
This project expands the lab’s capacity to test meat and seafood samples for antibiotic resistance, with samples collected regularly from selected retailers. Trained analysts will perform standardized tests in an ISO-accredited facility and ensure timely, properly transported specimens. The effort aims to map how common resistant bacteria are in the food supply and support public health decision-making.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better detection of resistant bacteria in foods and inform policies to protect shoppers and patients.
How similar studies have gone: This approach mirrors established food-safety surveillance efforts that have helped track resistance patterns in the food supply.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ivanof, Caryn — Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
- Study coordinator: Ivanof, Caryn
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.