Upgrade the genomics lab to faster, more reliable foodborne pathogen sequencing
Official title: Improvement of laboratory capacity for outbreak investigation of foodbornepathogens for FDA VET-LIRN
Funded at Ohio State Department of Agriculture · NIH-11526946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A state agricultural lab is updating its sequencing machine to quickly and accurately study foodborne germs that affect both animals and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State Department of Agriculture NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reynoldsburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $66,400 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008917-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11526946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this grant supports laboratory capacity that benefits animal and human health through improved outbreak investigation.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not the focus; the impact is through enhanced public health response and food safety.
What this research studies
This project replaces an aging sequencer with a newer Illumina MiSeq i100 at ADDL to improve whole genome sequencing of foodborne pathogens. The upgraded system will support AMR monitoring, outbreak investigations, and One Health surveillance under Vet-LIRN, with validated workflows and data sharing to FDA and public health partners. The work includes instrument installation, method verification, and staff training within the lab's quality management system to ensure reliable results. The aim is to maintain uninterrupted sequencing capacity during surges from outbreaks or contamination events, thereby strengthening national food safety readiness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians and public health teams could receive faster, higher-quality genomic data to guide outbreak response and prevention efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Upgrading sequencing capacity has shown improvements in turnaround time and data quality in similar public health laboratory settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State Department of Agriculture
Reynoldsburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prarat, Melanie — Ohio State Department of Agriculture
- Study coordinator: Prarat, Melanie
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.