Vet-LIRN Capacity-Building Project and Equipment Grants (U18)
Funds veterinary labs in the Vet-LIRN network for projects & equipment related to animal food issues, antimicrobial resistance, surveillance, and One Health initiatives.
Funder: Food and Drug Administration
Due Dates: February 15, 2027 (Optional LOI) | April 15, 2027 (Application) | February 15, 2028 (Optional LOI) | April 15, 2028 (Application) | September 4, 2028 (Grants.gov closing date)
Funding Amounts: Grants.gov award range: $225,000–$2,500,000; program budgets limited to $225,000 annually for up to five years
Summary: Supports Vet-LIRN laboratory projects and equipment addressing animal food safety, antimicrobial resistance, One Health, and emergency testing capacity.
Key Information: Vet-LIRN laboratory acceptance is required before the application receipt date, except for IT-support applications.
Description
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), through its Office of Applied Science’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), offers U18 cooperative agreements for laboratory projects and equipment. The program strengthens coordinated analysis of animal diagnostic samples and animal food/drug products, including responses to intentional or unintentional microbiological and chemical contamination.
Supported work includes method development and validation, short-term monitoring, antimicrobial resistance testing and isolate sequencing, antimicrobial stewardship, emerging technologies, and One Health investigations. Projects may prepare laboratories for emergencies or respond to active contamination events, including surge testing during large-scale animal food/feed emergencies. Funding can support equipment, supplies, personnel, and training, with substantial FDA scientific or programmatic involvement.
