Enhanced Surveillance and Control of Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Puerto Rico | RFA CK 25 182

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CK 25 182

The CDC is offering a single cooperative agreement under Funding Opportunity Number RFA CK 25 182 titled "Enhanced Surveillance and Control of Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Puerto Rico." This opportunity (CFDA 93.084) is designed to reinforce and expand an already-established arbovirus research and surveillance platform operating in both hospital and community settings in Puerto Rico. The overall aim is to improve the island's capacity to detect and respond to endemic and emerging mosquito-borne diseases, with dengue highlighted as a continuing priority and Oropouche virus noted as an emerging concern. Beyond pathogen detection, the NOFO emphasizes improving clinical management of patients and generating evidence on prevention and control strategies that can reduce illness and transmission.

A central focus is strengthening hospital-based surveillance for acute febrile illness (AFI). Because many arboviral infections initially present as nonspecific fever, an AFI platform acts as an early warning system that can pick up shifts in what is circulating, including the introduction of new viruses or changes in severity patterns. The surveillance enhancements are intended to support earlier recognition of outbreaks and faster characterization of the causes of fever, not limited strictly to arboviruses but inclusive of other pathogens that may mimic arboviral disease. In practice, this objective points to improving case detection workflows, clinical and laboratory coordination, and the ability to rapidly identify and report emerging threats.

The NOFO also uses the AFI platform as a base for clinical research on dengue and other arboviral diseases. The goal is not just counting cases, but learning from them in ways that directly improve patient care. This includes generating better evidence on disease presentation, progression, risk factors for severe outcomes, and management approaches. A specific emphasis is placed on special populations, including women and children, which signals an interest in understanding how arboviral diseases affect groups that can have different clinical courses, different exposure patterns, and different care needs. The intent is to translate surveillance into actionable clinical knowledge that supports better triage, treatment decisions, and guidance for healthcare providers.

On the community side, the program is expected to maintain and strengthen an existing cohort used to measure the incidence and prevalence of arboviral infections and other AFIs. Community cohort work complements hospital surveillance by capturing infections that never reach the hospital, identifying asymptomatic or mild infections, and providing a clearer picture of transmission dynamics over time. This component is also positioned to evaluate prevention and control strategies, particularly vector control efforts. By linking community infection patterns with vector control interventions, the platform can assess whether strategies are reducing infections in real-world conditions, helping refine approaches and prioritize resources.

Another major objective is to modernize and reinforce the infrastructure for data management and analysis. The NOFO calls for systems capable of handling large, complex datasets in real time, which reflects the realities of integrated surveillance: clinical data, lab results, community cohort measurements, entomology or vector control data, and possibly geospatial and temporal signals all need to be linked quickly and accurately. Strengthening this backbone is meant to improve data quality, speed up analytic turnaround, and support timely situational awareness for decision-making during outbreaks as well as during routine monitoring.

The opportunity also prioritizes collaboration and continuity. It calls for stronger working relationships with local government, community leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure the established program remains stable and effective, and to promote rapid, clear communication when risks are identified. This reflects the idea that surveillance platforms only work well when information moves quickly between researchers, clinicians, public health officials, and communities, and when trust and cooperation are in place before emergencies occur.

Administratively, this is a discretionary CDC opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning CDC is expected to have substantial involvement in the work compared with a standard grant. The original application closing date is February 28, 2025. The award ceiling is $5,000,000, and CDC anticipates making one award. Eligibility is restricted: Ponce Medical School Foundation Inc at Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico is identified as the only eligible applicant, indicating the funding is intended to build directly on an existing platform and institutional capacity already in place there.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhanced Surveillance and Control of Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Puerto Rico" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for RFA CK 25 182

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