Supporting FDA's integrated food safety system training delivery and development

The Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration awarded the University of Tennessee a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement on September 22, 2025, to support FDA's Integrated Food Safety System training delivery and development under the Food and Drug Administration Research program (CFDA 93.103).

The University of Tennessee will deliver course planning and course design, development, and evaluation services for FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs training modernization efforts. Deliverables include continued delivery of FD190 Food Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Application, and Evidence Development and related training content, alongside design and development of new or existing classroom and web courses, virtual events, reference resources, job aids, and other tools for regulatory curricula. The university will support FDA's course delivery needs to ensure quality learning outcomes, develop high-quality and cost-effective innovative approaches to course design and evaluation, and maintain flexible workplans to accommodate changes in FDA priorities and circumstances.

Dr. Thompson, Professor and Director of the Center for Agricultural Food Safety Policy and Co-Director of the Tennessee Center of Excellence, serves as Project Director and Principal Investigator. The institution assembled a team with expertise in food safety, instructional design, information technology, 508 compliance, and video development.

Work is performed in Knoxville, Tennessee. The period of performance runs through August 31, 2030.

Abstract

DR. Thompson, as PD/ PI, professor and director of cafsp and CO-director of the TN COE, UTK is submitting an application to continue support of FDA's efforts to modernize the approach to training ifss human and animal food safety professionals and addressing capacity to design and develop content for new or existing classroom and web courses, virtual events, reference resources, job aids, or other tools needed to design and develop engaging regulatory curricula utilizing adult learning principles. She has assembled a strong team with experience in food safety, instructional design, information technology, 508 compliance, and video development. Requested funds will support oted priorities and mutually agreed upon projects to address these 2 focus areas: 1) course planning, and 2) course design, development and evaluation. UTK has the following specific aims: 1) support oted's course delivery needs and ensure that participants experience a quality learning outcome; 2) support course design, development and evaluation projects to meet oted's needs and priorities using high quality, innovative and cost-effective approaches; 3) implement a flexible approach to establishing workplans and timelines to adjust for unanticipated circumstances based on changes to oted needs and priorities; 4)explore innovative approaches to enhance participants' overall learning experience while also considering cost effectiveness and timeliness; and 5) fulfill all necessary reporting and meeting requirements to ensure lines of communication are open and that effective coordination occurs with all FDA personnel to implement timely and high-quality outcomes. UTK will provide the following deliverables. Under focus area 1 on course planning, UTK will continue its successful delivery of FD190 food current good manufacturing practice, application, and evidence development and its related train-the-trainer and will cover all aspects of a delivery including: 1) recruiting ifss smes and providing instructor skills training and other oted mandated training to smes identified as potential course instructors; 2) ensuring instructors are trained on how to deliver all course components including scheduling TTT sessions as needed; 3) evaluating instructor performance to assure course content is delivered in compliance with FDA/oted instructional standards; 4) maintaining and submitting all necessary course records; 5) developing annual work and project plans in collaboration with oted; and 6) developing a course delivery schedule in concert with oted's work planning. Under focus area 2 on course design, development and evaluation, UTK will support oted's identified priorities and will implement innovative and cost-effective approaches to: 1) develop or revise course design documents, storyboards, assessments, knowledge checks, graphics, videos, exercises, and instructor, administrator, and participant manuals; 2) establish project plans/ timelines in collaboration with oted; 3) develop annual work and project plans; 4) review and pilot classroom course content; and 5) review and pilot web-based course content (content/functionality testing/508 compliance testing).