The Emerging Infections Network – Research for Preventing, Detecting, and Managing Travel-associated Infectious Diseases (RFA-CK-26-035) is a cooperative agreement funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration Health. This opportunity supports research and surveillance to detect and prevent travel-associated diseases by producing insights into disease detection, prevention strategies, burden, severity, diagnostics, treatment, and outcomes of infectious diseases in international travelers.

Overview

The programme focuses on producing actionable data through timely surveillance and sentinel detection. Research objectives include improving the speed of outbreak detection, developing guidelines and recommendations to improve patient care, enhancing understanding of the natural history of disease, optimizing genomic surveillance and diagnostic and treatment strategies, and advancing the global health security of the United States.

The opportunity includes two components:

• Component A – Clinic-based sentinel network.
• Component B – Sentinel detection in international transportation hubs.

Applicants may apply for Component A, Component B, or both. If an application for both components is ranked top, Component B will be awarded.

Funding and Benefits

• Funding type: Cooperative agreement
• Expected number of awards: 2 (one per component)
• Period of performance: 5 years in 12-month budget periods
• Total program funding (performance period): Component A – $5,000,000; Component B – $25,000,000
• Funding per budget period: Component A – $1,000,000; Component B – $5,000,000
• Maximum award per budget period: Component A – $1,000,000; Component B – $5,000,000
• Minimum award per budget period: Component A – $750,000; Component B – $1,000,000

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include the following types of organisations:

• State, county, city or township, and special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organisations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organisations other than small businesses
• Bona fide agents applying on behalf of state, territorial, local, and tribal government organisations (must submit documentation demonstrating arrangement with the eligible applicant)

Only one application per institution is permitted. Each institution must have a unique Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applications that fail to meet eligibility criteria, are submitted after the deadline, exceed the 12-page limit for the Research Strategy for each component, exceed the ceiling and total budget for each component, or fail to clearly state which component(s) to apply for will be considered non-responsive.

Deadline and Timeline

• Required letter of intent: September 15, 2025
• Application submission deadline: November 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
• Expected scientific review date: December 15, 2026
• Expected secondary review date: January 12, 2027
• Expected award date: August 2, 2027
• Expected start date: September 1, 2027
• Expiration date: December 7, 2026

Contact Information

• Scientific and research: Brian York, Ph.D., Scientific Program Officer – (404) 639-7094, ryork@cdc.gov
• Scientific merit review: Seraphine Pitt Barnes, PhD, MPH, CHES, Scientific Review Officer – (770) 488-6115, SPittBarnes@cdc.gov
• Grants management: Sharon Cassell – (770) 488-2703, ZPR0@cdc.gov
• Grants.gov support: 1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov (24/7, closed on federal holidays)
• SAM.gov support: 866-606-8220 or live chat with Federal Service Desk
• eRA Commons Help Desk: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552, commons@od.nih.gov (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, closed on federal holidays)