Preventing global health threats by strengthening surveillance systems to accelerate outbreak detection, notification, and response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a key federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a new cooperative agreement opportunity titled “Preventing global health threats by strengthening surveillance systems to accelerate outbreak detection, notification, and response.” The opportunity reflects the agency’s broader mission to protect public health globally by enhancing surveillance capacity, especially in light of evolving infectious disease threats and emerging health concerns. The grant opportunity is expected to open on April 24, 2026, with applications due by June 25, 2026. This funding opportunity seeks to strengthen global health security by improving and expanding disease surveillance systems in partner countries and regions. Core activities include enhancing existing public health surveillance infrastructure, developing the workforce, fostering collaboration between laboratory and surveillance systems, and promoting the use of data to drive public health action. The program aims to fortify emergency preparedness and response capabilities through better data collection and analytics, with the ultimate goal of detecting and controlling outbreaks more quickly and efficiently. A strong emphasis is placed on collaboration. Recipients of the award will be expected to work closely with Ministries of Health, in-country CDC offices, and other relevant stakeholders. These partnerships will focus on assessing the performance of existing systems, identifying and addressing gaps, and strengthening the overall architecture of health surveillance systems. Additionally, the program will support the creation and adaptation of technical documents, such as surveillance protocols and training materials, to align local systems with international standards. Implementing partners will also be responsible for supporting cross-sectoral coordination with stakeholders in One Health areas—an integrated approach that links human, animal, and environmental health. Innovative technologies and electronic platforms are encouraged, particularly those that enhance data integration and support decision-making. Workforce development is another key component, with the expectation that partners will provide robust training and capacity-building initiatives aimed at local staff. The grant is intended for a broad range of eligible applicants, including governmental entities (state, city, township, county), tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, and nonprofit and for-profit entities. It is explicitly marked as having no cost-sharing or matching requirement, making it accessible to a wider range of institutions. A total of $15 million in program funding is estimated, with an expected two awards. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 PM ET on June 25, 2026. The estimated award date is August 31, 2026, and the project start date is scheduled for September 30, 2026. The opportunity is recurring annually, suggesting a potential for future cycles. There is no pre-application requirement such as a concept note or letter of intent noted in the current forecast. For questions or technical assistance, interested parties are directed to contact Broderick Yoerg at 404.234.0666 or via email at [email protected].