Emerging Infections Sentinel Networks

In its 1994 monograph, Addressing Emerging Infectious Disease Threats - A Prevention Strategy for the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called for the establishment of provider-based Emerging Infections Sentinel Netw

There are currently three provider-based networks established through CDC's EISN cooperative agreement programs: 1) Surveillance network of infectious disease specialists, 2) Global surveillance network of travel medicine clinics, and 3) Emergency department-based network of academically affiliated emergency departments for research on emerging infectious diseases. The first two networks (infectious disease specialists and travel medicine clinics) are non-research programs, and the third network (academically affiliated EDs) is a research program. These networks contribute to surveillance for emerging infectious diseases, including drug resistant, foodborne and waterborne, and vaccine-preventable or potentially vaccine-preventable diseases, and enhance information exchange leading to early identification of and response to trends and outbreaks.

Eligibility for this program is open, however, only institutions/organizations that meet and can demonstrate the necessary qualifications described in the published NOFOs for this program should apply. Additional eligibility information is also described below: There are both research and non-research funding opportunities under this program. For the research opportunity, only organizations currently operating a nationwide provider-based sentinel network that link academically affiliated hospital emergency departments in monitoring a variety of infectious disease problems are eligible. For the non-research opportunity, only organizations currently operating provider-based sentinel networks that link groups of participating individuals or organizations organized around either infectious disease clinicians or travel medicine in monitoring a variety of infectious disease problems are eligible. Applicants should refer to the published NOFOs for more information regarding applicant eligibility.

- Health Professionals - Anyone/general public

Recipients may only expend funds for reasonable program purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies, and services, such as contractual. More detailed information regarding use of funding for specific projects/activities will be included in the published NOFOs for this program.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with a period of performance of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

Applications will be evaluated on the review criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFOs). In general, the review and selection process of complete and responsive applications to the NOFO consists of determination of the scientific and technical merit by objective or peer review, availability of funds, and relevance of program priorities and the priorities of CDC.

Applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an Objective Review Panel (for the non-research funding opportunity) or a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) (for the research funding opportunity) in accordance with CDC review policies and procedures. CDC will not review incomplete and non-responsive applications. Complete and responsive applications will undergo the appropriate review process (Objective Review or SEP Review), receive a written critique and be scored according to the published review criteria. Any deviation from this process will be detailed in the published NOFO for this program. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) from CDC. The NOA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NOA will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer. Initial award provides funds for the first budget period (usually 12 months) and the NOA will indicate support recommended for the remainder of the project period, allocation of Federal funds by budget categories, and special conditions, if any. Once competing applicants have been selected for the first year of funding in the project period, those selected will be eligible to submit annual non-competitive continuation applications for each successive budget period of the project period.

Check Grants.gov for any relevant NOFO information regarding processes for applying for assistance.

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 1 to 5 years. After initial awards, and subject to availability of funds, projects may be continued non-competitively contingent upon satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports) and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.