Enhanced Surveillance and Control of Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Puerto Rico

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled Enhanced Surveillance and Control of Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Puerto Rico. This funding opportunity, under RFA-CK-25-182, aims to strengthen an established research platform for arboviruses in both hospital and community settings in Puerto Rico. With a focus on pathogens such as dengue, Oropouche, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, the initiative seeks to improve early detection, patient management, and vector control strategies while fostering collaboration with local stakeholders. The primary objectives of this NOFO include strengthening hospital surveillance for acute febrile illness (AFI) to enable early detection of emerging arboviruses and other pathogens, using the AFI surveillance platform for clinical research, and maintaining a community cohort to assess the prevalence of arboviral infections and the effectiveness of vector control strategies. Additionally, the project aims to modernize data management infrastructure to handle large, complex datasets in real time and enhance partnerships with local government and community leaders to ensure program sustainability and effective communication. The initiative will be funded through a U01 Cooperative Agreement with a total estimated funding of $25,000,000 over a five-year period (2025-2030), with approximately $5,000,000 allocated for the first year. Only one award is anticipated under this NOFO. Applications must include a 12-page research strategy, detailing the proposed approach to surveillance, clinical research, vector control assessment, data management, and community engagement. Key areas of focus include surveillance of AFIs, cohort-based clinical studies, strengthening infrastructure for data analysis, evaluating rapid diagnostic tools, and increasing community engagement through educational campaigns and partnerships. Special populations, such as pregnant women and children, are prioritized in the research and surveillance strategies. Eligible applicants are institutions and organizations with demonstrated capacity for conducting surveillance and research on arboviral diseases. Each application must have a single Principal Investigator (PI) and institutions are limited to one submission. Applicants are expected to demonstrate expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, community cohort management, and clinical research on arboviral diseases. The application deadline is February 28, 2025, with a Letter of Intent due by January 28, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov or the NIH eRA Commons system and validated before the deadline. The anticipated project start date is September 1, 2025. The outcomes of this project are expected to contribute significantly to public health preparedness, reduce morbidity and mortality associated with arboviral infections, and improve prevention and control measures. Findings and insights gained from this initiative will also inform future strategies for managing arboviral threats both in Puerto Rico and globally.