Assist the laboratory in meeting the responsibilities required of their designated level as outlined in the 2023 agreement for participation in the national animal health laboratory network (nahln)

This $67,487,870 cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will assist laboratories in meeting responsibilities as outlined in the 2023 National Animal Health Laboratory Network agreement and support overall increases in network capacity and capabilities. Funding will be used for quality management systems, laboratory information management systems, staff expertise and proficiency enhancements, equipment upgrades, and limited facility projects directly enhancing work product and test outcomes. This award benefits both the network and American public by helping ensure rapid response capabilities for zoonotic and pandemic diseases.

Subawards will be provided to Cornell University, University of Kentucky, Texas A&M University, Ohio Department of Agriculture, University of Georgia, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania, and Mississippi State University. These subawardees will choose from categories including ensuring sample testing capacity, building epidemiology capabilities with an emphasis on One Health collaboration, partnering on workforce training integrating One Health principles, and conducting joint animal-human disease response exercises. The award period is June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025.

In addition, IT will support an overall increase in nahln capacity and capabilities to meet the needs faced during an adverse animal health event caused by the presence of an emerging disease or foreign animal disease. This will be accomplished by providing support for; quality management systems, laboratory information management systems to electronically submit testing data accurately and consistently, improving staffing expertise and proficiency, enhancing equipment, and limited "brick and mortar" projects that will directly enhance work product, test outcomes, etc. This agreement will benefit the overall network as well as the american population by helping to ensure the rapid response to zoonotic and pandemic diseases.