Strengthening training, evaluation, and partnerships in the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases - the new england and middle-atlantic regions of the united states face some of the greatest…

Strengthening training, evaluation, and partnerships in the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases - the new england and middle-atlantic regions of the united states face some of the greatest vector-borne disease challenges in the nation. In addition to lyme disease, other tick-borne infections are increasing rapidly and incidence of mosquito-borne arboviruses including eastern equine encephalitis virus and emerging jamestown canyon virus are a concern. Our ability to respond to these vector-borne disease threats is limited and we need new ways of addressing and preventing these challenges. One root cause of the problem is a lack of trained professionals who can address vector-borne disease threats. There is also a growing need to evaluate the efficacy of vector-borne disease prevention strategies that are grounded in community- and regional-specific contexts. In this proposal, we outline a training and evaluation agenda that will address these gaps and fill critical needs. The highly integrative northeast regional center for excellence in vector-borne diseases (nevbd) will accomplish these goals across 3 specific aims: (1) increase opportunities for students and professionals to receive training in vector-borne disease prevention and control, (2) evaluate the impact and effectiveness of vector-borne disease prevention and control programs, tools, and strategies, and (3) build partnerships among relevant stakeholders. Our collaborative efforts will focus on identifying the pressing needs for academic, professional, and clinical audiences regarding vector-borne disease knowledge, training, and workforce capacity. We will continue to support and expand training efforts with a proven track record of success, including our innovative degree programs and hands-on boot camps and workshops addressing professional development needs in the northeast region. Our expanded academic opportunities will include support for undergraduate coursework, internships, and master of public health applied practical experiences in vector ecology, biology, surveillance, and control. We will enhance our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion through targeted recruitment and engagement with underrepresented populations in the stem field through these academic training opportunities, including a specific focus on engagement with tribal communities in the region. Our professional development opportunities will be expanded to include optimization of continuing medical education opportunities for frontline medical providers and the development of a certificate in medical entomology. Our efforts include evaluation, standardization, and improvement of existing vector control tools and survey tools to provide robust assessments of the perceptions and behaviors of communities at increased risk of vector-borne disease in the northeast region. We have assembled an interdisciplinary network of highly accomplished and talented experts representing the broad spectrum of essential skills and perspectives necessary to carry out our proposed goals in training and evaluation.