College Park, Md -- The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) was established in 1996 as a jointly administered Institute between the University of Maryland and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Institute is located in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland College Park. This $17 million award will allow JIFSAN for the next five years to conduct multi-institutional, multidisciplinary research projects; continue the development of mechanisms for the exchange of technical information and scientific concepts, and programs on food safety and defense; and continue developing innovative education and outreach programs including undergraduate internship and graduate research assistantship.
As an FDA Center of Excellence, JIFSAN conducts various research and outreach activities in food safety and applied nutrition to help ensure that regulatory decisions have a sound science footing and that the best methods and tools are available to advance food safety. JIFSAN has developed innovative capacity-building partnerships with various sectors of stakeholders in supporting the Food Safety Modernization Act that emphasizes the concept of preventing food safety-related problems before they occur, and enhance FDA’s efforts in working with other nations to improve U.S. and worldwide health.
“The work conducted by JIFSAN is important on a global scale, helping food safety professionals from across the world understand how to properly implement and advance a healthy food system,” said Craig Beyrouty, Dean and Director of UMD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “JIFSAN’s partnership with the FDA remains strong, and through this generous award we’re looking forward to making significant strides in the next five years.”
Since its inception JIFSAN has funded numerous research projects of UMD faculty, and provided undergraduate internships to 350 UMD students to work with FDA scientists. JIFSAN’s international food safety training programs have trained over 9,000 food safety professionals representing more than 40 countries.
“We thank FDA for its support to JIFSAN for the past 20 years, and are excited about opportunities the FDA grant provides to improve food safety globally through our research, education and outreach programs,” said Professor Jianghong Meng, Director of JIFSAN.
For more information on JIFSAN, please visit its website: www.jifsan.umd.edu
