Funded Research Projects

All research projects are at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus, unless otherwise noted

Due to budget constraints, upon completion of current projects, this program will be cancelled. No new grants will be solicited or given

Projects funded in

2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2004

Predicting Exposure Estimates: Experimental Food Additive Partitioning Studies and Model Development

Start and End Dates: 7/01/04 – 6/30/07 Project Objective: To develop accurate methods for predicting the extent of packaged food contamination, allowing officials to quickly evaluate personal food exposure estimates to chemical agents and/or radioactive contamination from the food supply and implement the necessary safety measures. Principal Investigator: Robert A. Walker (Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborators: Timothy Begley (CFSAN) and William Limm (CFSAN)

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2003

The Impact of Risk Messages about Bioterrorism on the U.S. Food Supply on Audience Attitudes and Behaviors

Start and End Dates: 7/01/03 – 6/30/06 Project Objective: To test different food bioterrorism scenarios, played out through simulated news stories over a period of days, to evaluate the effects of selected message characteristics on public responses. Principal Investigator: Linda Aldoory (Communication) FDA Collaborators: Marjorie Davidson (CFSAN), Brenda Derby (CFSAN), Laura Fox (CFSAN), and Alan Levy (CFSAN)

An Integrated Approach for Identifying Phototoxic Cosmetic Ingredients

Start and End Dates: 7/01/03 – 6/30/06 Project Objective: Development of non-animal assays or biomarkers that predict the risks associated with the use of cosmetic ingredients on sun-exposed skin. Principal Investigator: Daniel E. Falvey (Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborators: Wayne G. Wamer (CFSAN), and Patty K.L. Fu (CFSAN)

Molecular Mechanism of Fluoroquinolones and Erythromycin Resistance in Campylobacterjejuni/coli

Start and End Dates: 07/01/03 – 06/30/06 Project Objectives: (1) To determine the role of point mutations in gyrA gene in fluoroquinolones and erythromycin resistance; (2) To identify putative efflux pumps associated with fluoroquinolones and erythromycin resistance; and (3) To identify novel determinants responsible for resistance to fluoroquinolone and erythromycin Principal Investigator: Jianghong Meng (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborators: Patrick F. McDermott (CVM) and David G. White (CVM)

Campylobacter jejuni-host Interaction of the Intestinal Mucosal Surface

Start and End Dates: 7/01/03 - 6/30/06 Project Objective: (1) To compare the abilities of different isolates of C. jejuni to adhere to, invade into, and migrate across the polarized intestinal epithelial monolayer; (2) To determine the effect of C. jejuni on the organization of the cytoskeleton and tight junction of polarized intestinal epithelial cells; (3) To determine the effect of C. jejuni on the expression levels of the chemokine and the homing receptor for leukocytes in polarized intestinal epithelial cells. Principal Investigator: Wenxia Song (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) FDA Collaborators: Shaohua Zhao (CVM) and Ruby Singh (CVM)

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2002

Facilitating Needed Drug Approvals for Aquaculture: In Vitro Metabolic Profiles to Characterize and Predict Drug Residues in Finfish

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/05 Project Objective: To facilitate needed drug approvals for the expansion of therapeutic drugs used in aquaculture in the United States. Principal Investigator: Andrew S. Kane (Veterinary Medicine, Baltimore Campus) FDA Collaborators: Badar Shaikh (CVM) and Renate Reimschuessel (CVM)

Moving Whole-Cell Biosensing from a Qualitative to Quantitative Tool: Development of a Dynamic Cell Immobilization Mechanism

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/05 Project Objective: Establishment of the cell immobilization mechanism, verification of sensing capacity and cell viability, and quantitative analysis of sensing signals. Principal Investigator: Y. Martin Lo (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborator: Mahendra H. Kothary (CFSAN)

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/05 Project Objective: Identify and study chemical agents that can kill bacterial spore pathogens, thus destroying their ability to synthesize toxins or cause injections. Principal Investigator: Norman Hansen (Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborator: Laila H. Ali (CFSAN)

Study of Nisin and Sublancin in a Strategy for Protection of the United States Food Supply from Pathogenic Bacterial Spores Introduced Through Bioterrorism

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/05 Project Objectives: (1) To identify and characterize contaminations and defects on ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables based on spectral sensing; (2) To determine the efficacy of using multispectral imaging techniques on identifying various fecal contaminations on fresh produces; (3) To test and validate multispectral imaging techniques to detect potentially problematic defects that could harbor pathogens, such as cuts or cracks in fruits and vegetables, in which washing water is hard to reach. Principal Investigator: Yang Tao (Biological Resources Engineering) FDA Collaborators: Robert Buchanan (CFSAN), Yoonseok Soon (CFSAN), Yud-Ren Chen (CFSAN), and Moon S. Kim (CFSAN) USDA Collaborator: Yaguang Luo (Produce Quality, and Safety Lab)

Safety Inspection of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables using Optical Sensing and Imaging Techniques

Evaluation of the Potential Toxicity of Soybean Isoflavones in Development and Aging

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/03 (extended to 6-30-04) Project Objective: To investigate the transfer and accumulation of genistein or genistin administered orally to birds, with resulting accumulation into the eggs. Principal Investigator: Mary Ann Ottinger (Animal and Avian Sciences) (previously, Monica M. Giusti, Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborator: Sherry Ferguson (CFSAN)

Influence of Pre-harvest Antibiotic Pesticide Treatment on the Native Microflora of Apple and Pear Blossoms, Leaves, Fruit and Cider, and Its Implications for Food Safety

Start and End Dates: 07/01/02 – 06/30/05 Project Objective: To test the hypothesis that application of antibiotic pesticides alters the native bacterial microflora of pre-harvest orchid fruit, creating ecological niches for human enteric pathogens. Principal Investigator: Christopher Walsh (Natural Resources Sciences and Landscape Architecture) FDA Collaborators: Arthur J. Miller (CFSAN) and S. Brian Eblen (CFSAN)

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2001

Monitoring and Compliance Under Seafood HACCP: An Economic Investigation

Start and End Dates: 07/01/01 – 06/30/04 Project Objective: To conduct an economic investigation of the determinants of seafood processing plan inspection and compliance with HACCP regulations using data provided by FDA and other sources. The results of the analysis should help improve targeting of inspections and formulation of measures (e.g., injunctions or fines) to promote greater compliance. Principal Investigator: Anna Alberini (Agriculture and Resource Economics) FDA Collaborators: Dominic Mancini (CFSAN) and Robert Scharff (CFSAN)

The Use of Tissue Fluid Correlations in Predict Drug Residue Levels in Edible Tissues

Start and End Dates: 07/01/01 – 06/30/04 Project Objective: To provide the initial validation for the use of tissue-fluid correlation data as a tool to be used by food safety personnel to accurately predict whether a particular animal has tissue drug residues which are in violation of FDA approved tolerances. Principal Investigator: Natalie D. Eddington (Pharmaceutical Sciences, UMB) FDA Collaborators: James O. Peggins (CVM), Keesla Moulton (CVM) Jurgeon van Bredow (CVM), and Pamela Chamberlain (CVM)

Investigating the Perceived Credibility of FDA’s Advisory Committee Meetings as Techniques for Communicating About Food, Drug, Biologics, and Medical Device Issue

Start and End Dates: 07/01/01 – 06/30/04 (Extended to 06/30/05) Project Objective: To investigate the influence of conflict-of-interest considerations on the perceived credibility of FDA advisory committee. Principal Investigator: Leah Waks (originally, Katherine A. McComas) (Communications) FDA Collaborators: Linda Sherman (CFSAN) (originally Linda Suydam, OC)

Comparison of the Effects of Curcumin Supplements in Young and Aged Rats

Start and End Dates: 07/01/01 – 06/30/04 Project Objective: To compare the incidence of pathological changes in young and aged rats fed curcumin with rats fed the control diet, to determine the effect of aging on the absorption of metabolism of curcumin added to the diet and to elucidate a potential mechanism for the purported anti-aging effect of curcumin supplements. Principal Investigator: Bernadene Magnuson (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborators: Fred Hines (CFSAN), Sabine Franke (CFSAN) and Hamida Alam (CFSAN)

Modeling the Antimicrobial Effect of Lactate on the Growth and Survival of Listeria Monocytogenes on Ready to Eat Seafood

Start and End Dates: 07/01/01 – 06/30/04 Project Objective: To provide scientific information needed for HACCP analysis and microbial risk assessment of ready-to-eat seafood to diverse interest groups such as FDA, seafood industry, retailers, and consumers. Principal Investigator: Kisun Yoon (Human Ecology, UMD, Eastern Shore) FDA Collaborator: Richard D. Whiting (CFSAN)

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2000

Using a Probabilistic Risk Assessment Model to Study Risk of E. coli contamination in Hard Cheeses

Start and End Dates: 02/01/00 – 01/31/03 Project Objective: To develop a probabilistic risk assessment model to study risk of E.coli 0157:H7 contamination in rennet-acid-conjugated cheeses and particularly hard cheeses (cheddar) Principal Investigator: Mohammed Modarres (Mechanical Engineering) FDA Collaborator: Joseph Schlesser (NCFST, Argo, IL)

Start and End Dates: 02/01/00 - 1/31/03 Project Objective: Characterization of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance integron among Shiga toxin-producing E. coli isolates. Characterization of Campylobacter isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility Principal Investigator: Jianghong Meng (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborators: David White (CVM), Shaohua Zhao (CVM), and David Wagner (CVM)

Antibiotic Resistance Integrons in Shiga Toxin –Producing Escherichia coli and Campylobacterjejuni/coli

Start and End Dates: 02/01/00 – 01/31/03 Project Objective: Development of Methods for the Culture and Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Food Processing Materials Principal Investigator: Paul Schreudders (Biological Resources Engineering) FDA Collaborator: Laila H. Ali (CFSAN) UM Collaborators: Sam Joseph (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) and Andrea Lomander (Biological Resources Engineering)

The Evaluation and Removal of Bacterial Biofilms from Food and Food Processing Materials

Start and End Dates: 02/01/00 – 01/31/02 Project Objective: Examining the effect of Chicken Anemia Virus infection on salmonella shedding, immunobiology of Salmonella infections in the laying hen Principal Investigator: Robert Heckert (Veterinary Medicine) FDA Collaborators: Richard Raybourne (CFSAN), Uma Babu (CFSAN) UM Collaborator: Wenxia Song (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics)

Viral Immunosuppression and the Infection of Shell Eggs by Salmonella Enteritidis

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 1999

The Detection of Food Borne Pathogens in Biofilms Using Antibodies, Lectins and Fluorescent Dyes

Start and End Dates: 02/01/99 – 01/14/02 Project Objective: Examination of the formation of biofilms in model pathogenic food-borne bacteria Principal Investigator: Ronald Weiner (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) FDA Collaborator: Ben Tall (CFSAN) UM Collaborators: Sam Joseph (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) and Lewis Carr (Biological Resources Engineering)

Immunologic Sequela Following Oral Exposure to a Foodborne Toxin

Start and End Dates: 02/01/99 – 01/31/02 Project Objective: Seek to assess immunologic risk associated with different oral exposure levels of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). Provide improved exposure models for transcytosis of SE and potentially other toxins in food across the gut epithelium. Principal Investigator: Carol Pontzer (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) FDA Collaborators: Richard Raybourne (CFSAN) and Mary Ann Principato (CFSAN)

Food Safety Risk Perceptions Among Professionals and Consumers

Start and End Dates: 01/01/99 – 12/31/00 Project Objective: Investigation of attitudes and perceptions associated with food safety risks to further understand why many individuals fail to adopt safe food handling recommendations. Principal Investigator: Mark A. Kantor (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborators: Cynthia R. Turtle (CFSAN), Toija A. Riggins (CFSAN), and Alan S. Levy (CFSAN) UM Collaborator: Robert Feldman (Public and Community Health)

Start and End Dates: 02/01/99 – 01/31/00 Project Objective: To determine whether a single 60-mg dose of ferrous sulfate interferes with fractional zinc absorption at 7-9 weeks of lactation. Principal Investigator: Robert T. Jackson (Nutrition and Food Science) FDA Collaborator: Isaac Rabbani (CFSAN) UM Collaborator: Phylis Moser-Veillon (Nutrition and Food Science)

Effect of Moderate Dose Iron Supplementation on Zinc Absorption and Metabolism During Lactation

Start and End Dates: 11/28/98 – 11/30/00 Project Objective: This project seeks to develop methods to capture and concentrate pathogenic microorganisms from relevant biological samples. Principal Investigator: Catherine Fenselau (Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborators: Mary Carson (CVM) and David Wagner (CVM)

The Missing Connection: Isolation and Concentration of Microorganisms on Biocapture Surfaces

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 1998

Surveillance of Poultry and Other Stock for Carriage of Multiresistant Enterococcus

Start and End Dates: 05/01/98 – 05/30/01 (extended to 12/01) Project Objective: To investigate the biological activities of individual and mixture of dietary carotenoids and their metabolites in several in vitro and in vivo models of chemoprevention. These are: (a) intercellular gap-junctional communication proteins in an in vitro model; (b) the detoxication (phase 2) enzymes in an in vitro model; (c) an in vivo anti-inflammatory model. The results from these studies will allow the investigators to determine structural requirement and chemopreventive potency of dietary carotenoids and their metabolites. Based on these findings, a multicarotenoid supplement consisting of a mixture of dietary carotenoids and their metabolites could be developed by scientists for clinical chemoprevention trials of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular. Principal Investigator: Lewis E. Carr (Biological Resources Engineering) FDA Collaborators: David Wagner (CVM), Linda Tollefson (CVM), and David White (CVM)

Immunoaffinity Ultrafiltration for High Throughput Screening/Residue Analysis in Food Safety

Start and End Dates: 05/01/98 – 04/20/01 Project Objective: Develop immunoaffinity membrane ultrafiltration, which integrates membrane separation with the specificity of antigen-antibody interactions, for multiresidue analysis of veterinary drugs, pesticides, toxicants, and mycotoxins in foods, agricultural commodities, and environmental samples. Principal Investigator: Cheng Lee (Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborator: Mary Trucksess (CFSAN)

Effects of a Variety of Stress Factors on Immune System of Poultry and Subsequent Infection of shell Eggs by Salmonella

Start and End Dates: 05/01/98 – 04/30/01 Project Objective: Examine the immune response of hens orally inoculated with different dosages of Salmonella enteritidis. Compare the immune response of hens at a time just after receiving the bacteria versus a designated time long after the inoculation. Principal Investigator: Wenxia Song (Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics) FDA Collaborator: Richard Raybourne (CFSAN)

Mechanism of Chemoprevention by Dietary Carotenoids and Their Metabolites in the Prevention of Chronic Disease in Humans

Start and End Dates: 05/01/98 – 04/30/01 Project Objective: Investigate if carotenoids and their metabolites can cross the brain-blood barriers and if so how these essential groups of nutrients are distributed throughout the various parts of the human brain Principal Investigator: Frederick Khachik(Chemistry and Biochemistry) FDA Collaborators: Eugene Mazzola (CFSAN), Shirley Blakely (CFSAN), Andrija Kornhauser (CFSAN)