Eliminating Parasitic and Neglected Tropical Disease Threats to the United States - Program Support and Research to Reduce Threats to Americans at Home and Abroad

The Eliminating Parasitic and Neglected Tropical Disease Threats to the United States – Program Support and Research to Reduce Threats to Americans at Home and Abroad opportunity is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, the program is managed through the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. This initiative reflects CDC’s long-standing leadership in global health, particularly in controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and parasitic infections that pose risks both internationally and domestically. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to expand a network of research and implementation partners working with CDC to eliminate or control non-malaria parasitic threats and NTDs. The program emphasizes applied and operational research that improves disease surveillance, enhances diagnostic tools, and strengthens programmatic interventions. Projects are expected to address diseases that impact Americans either directly within the United States or indirectly through global transmission risks, including those affecting travelers, military personnel, and global health security. Funding under this opportunity supports a wide range of activities, including research synthesis, field studies, diagnostic evaluation, surveillance system development, and integrated disease control strategies. Applicants must propose projects that address key barriers to disease elimination, such as improving mass drug administration strategies, advancing laboratory and epidemiologic methods, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems. Funds must be used in accordance with federal regulations and cannot support unallowable costs such as lobbying activities or certain clinical services outside permitted scope. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this program. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes federal, state, local, and tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations; and foreign entities. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to collaborate with ministries of health or equivalent authorities in endemic countries or U.S. territories. Strong emphasis is placed on prior experience in NTD or parasitic disease work, particularly in collaboration with CDC or similar agencies, and on the capacity to conduct research across multiple geographic regions. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, following registration in SAM.gov and eRA Commons. A required letter of intent must be submitted prior to the full application. Applications must include a detailed research plan, budget, data management plan, and supporting documentation such as letters of collaboration. Proposals are evaluated through a two-tiered review process, including external scientific peer review and internal programmatic review, based on criteria such as significance, innovation, investigator qualifications, approach, and research environment. Key deadlines include a required letter of intent due on June 18, 2026, and a full application deadline of July 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced in late September 2026, with project start dates immediately following. The period of performance is five years, structured in 12-month budget periods. This is not a recurring program with guaranteed future cycles, though similar CDC opportunities may be released periodically depending on funding and program priorities.

Align proposal with CDC priorities; demonstrate prior collaboration with health ministries; include strong monitoring and evaluation plans; ensure project spans multiple endemic regions