OpportunityTitle: Detection and Characterization of Emerging Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Pathogens in Indonesia
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: ALERT Asia Foundation/Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology (EIMB) is eligible to apply for this NOFO.
Description: The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support research to enable rapid and accurate identification of emerging vector-borne and zoonotic threats in Indonesia by building upon the scientific and laboratory infrastructure established under two previously awarded NOFOs. Indonesia is a recognized &#8220;hotspot&#8221; for emerging pathogens. It is the world&#8217;s fourth largest population, spread among nearly 1000 inhabited islands stretching 3,400 miles along the equator, making opportunities for an emerging pathogen to become epidemic in the absence of a reliable detection system high. The arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and Rickettsia (typhus and spotted fevers) are of particular concern because of the ease with which vectors can transfer these viruses between wildlife, humans and livestock. Remarkably, little is known about these diseases in Indonesia or their potential for movement within and from the country. For example, only two of 11 pathogenic arboviruses known to be found in neighboring Australia have been identified in Indonesia. Although Indonesia is known historically to be endemic for murine typhus and scrub typhus, they are almost never diagnosed. CDC began a highly successful effort to build Indonesian capacity to identify emerging vector-borne diseases in 2011. This effort helped to (1) build and support a state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic laboratory at Jakarta; (2) conduct countrywide training in virological techniques and biosafety; and (3) pilot a large-scale acute febrile illness (AFI) surveillance network. During the previous cooperative agreement (RFA-CK-15-001), Indonesian and CDC partners identified the first West Nile and Zika virus cases in Indonesia, conducted the first Zika seroprevalence study, and identified Rickettsia felis for the first time as a cause of fatal neurological disease. Indonesia is a leader of the Global Health Security Agenda and the CDC mission supports Indonesia&#8217;s efforts to fulfill its Joint External Evaluation (JEE) goals; especially strengthening the national laboratory system and improving the ability of real-time surveillance in detecting emerging pathogens (WHO/OHE/2016.4, Indonesia JEE, November 2017).
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Grants Policy
GrantorContactText: Amy Yang&lt;br/&gt;vdz9@cdc.gov
CloseDateExplanation: Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.