CDC-RFA-JG-26-0058 Enhancing global laboratory systems to safely manage biological risks, deploy diagnostics, and sequence pathogens to improve capacities for global health threat response and detection

The Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none). CDC anticipates an Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding amount of $3,000,000 for Year 1, subject to the availability of funds.The purpose of this NOFO is to reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality in India, the Philippines, and Vietnam by strengthening:• TB case finding, including linked activities such as screening, testing, and diagnostic evaluation.• TB prevention, including TB preventive treatment (TPT).• TB treatment, including linkage and improved treatment regimens, as appropriate.• Surveillance, through adopting, evaluating, and expanding innovative approaches.Activities implemented will focus on:• Expanding and improving diagnosis of TB infection and TB disease, including early and asymptomatic TB as well as drug-resistant or multidrug-resistant TB. This will be done by using and evaluating innovative screening and diagnostic methods and scaling up evidence-based approaches. • Improving TPT outcomes for all individuals at high risk of developing TB disease and improving TB treatment outcomes of individuals with TB disease, including those with drug-resistant or multidrug-resistant TB. This will be done by using new, shorter, and better-tolerated treatment regimens.• Strengthening TB surveillance for data-driven decision making, program planning, and public health action.Asia carries the highest burden of TB and drug-resistant or multidrug-resistant TB globally. This NOFO will focus on activities in India, the Philippines, and Vietnam because they are three of the top four countries contributing to the TB burden in the U.S. This aligns with the America First Global Health Strategy.

Activities under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) should focus on protecting and improving public health globally by: 1) strengthening public health surveillance systems; 2)improving the public health surveillance workforce; 3) improving the interface between public health disease surveillance and laboratory systems; 4) reinforcing emergency surveillance preparedness; 5) enhancing electronic disease surveillance platforms and systems; and 6)enhancing the use of surveillance data for public health action. This NOFO is intended to support global health security partners to develop or continue the implementation of surveillance activities that focus on protecting and improving public health globally through strategic planning, policy, strengthening surveillance capacities and systems through partnerships. These surveillance systems should build and improve regional and country capacities to detect, respond, control, and prevent infectious diseases and emerging threats; strengthen border health security; and mitigate public health events of international concern (PHEICs) or other global health issues. The implementing partner(s) will work closely with Ministries of Health, CDC country offices, and other stakeholders to assess existing surveillance systems, identify gaps, and propose solutions to enhance system performance. Activities will include the development and adaptation of protocols, training materials, and guidance documents, as well as the integration of surveillance data into actionable insights for decision-making. The partner will also support cross-sectoral collaboration to address One Health priorities, facilitate the use of innovative tools and technologies, and provide workforce development opportunities to build local capacity. This NOFO aligns with the broader mission of the DGHP to improve global health security by ensuring countries are equipped to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats effectively. The implementing partner will play a critical role in advancing surveillance systems that contribute to timely interventions and evidence-based policy decisions, ultimately safeguarding public health at national and global levels.

Activities under this NOFO will focus on protecting and improving public health globally by: 1) strengthening public health laboratory systems; 2) improving public health laboratory workforce; 3) improving bio risk management; 4) reinforcing emergency laboratory preparedness in alignment with 7-1-7 outbreak response paradigm; 5) enhancing laboratory quality management systems and; 6) enhancing diagnostic capacity via rapid tests for low resource settings and genomic sequencing for pathogens of pandemic potential. Additionally, laboratory recipients previously funded under CDC-RFA-GH20-2109 may apply to expand efforts in additional countries with special consideration given to those countries.