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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).