ISPAM Meeting Book 3-15-16

INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDER PANEL ON ALTERNATIVE METHODS (ISPAM)

Uday Dessai, Ph.D. Office of Public Health Science, FSIS, USDA

Dr. Uday Dessai serves as the Senior Public Health Advisor at FSIS USDA, in the Office of Public Health Science. In this position Dr. Dessai leads major interagency programs - FSIS NARMS, FSIS whole genome sequencing, role of science in policy development and scientific innovation in the Agencies strategic planning. The other leadership positions that Dr. Dessai held at FSIS include Director Science Staff, Director Microbiology Division and Branch Chief in Risk Assessment Division.

At FSIS, Dr. Dessai led significant Agency programs including the FSIS Microbiological Baseline studies, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), Microbiological and Residue issues with domestic and international implications, and Risk Assessment and Exposure Modeling - to inform science and policy considerations. More specifically, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of experts, Dr. Dessai has played a key role in accomplishing FSISs’ food safety - public health’ mission goals by providing expert guidance and advice on highly significant initiatives including Microbiological Issues (E. coli O157:H7, STECs, Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter and Toxoplasma), Microbiological Baselines, BSE and Harvard BSE Risk Assessment, and NACMCF (FSIS New Technology Adoption, AMS specifications, Norovirus and DOD Microbiological Criteria).