Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases

What to know

  • CDC’s Centers of Excellence (COEs) were established in 2017 to conduct applied research and professional training.
  • COEs are working to expand nationwide capacity to prevent and respond to emerging vector-borne diseases across the United States.
Photo of a person separating and counting mosquitoes for surveillance purposes

COEs established in 2022

In July 2022, CDC awarded four universities $40 million over 5 years to serve as COEs. These include the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of California-Davis, University of Florida, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. The award provided $2 million to each COE the first year and $2 million to each COE the following 4 years.

Photo of a mosquito control professional conducting sewer surveillance
Mosquito control technician conducts larval mosquito surveillance in a sewer.

COE goals

Conduct research

COEs conduct research on ways to prevent tick and mosquito bites or suppress populations of regionally important ticks and mosquitoes and their associated human disease pathogens.

Train

COEs train a new generation of public health entomologists to serve as experts in vector-borne diseases.

Collaborate

COEs strengthen collaboration between the academic community and state, territorial, and local public health organizations, vector management programs, and other potential partners. Together, they develop, evaluate, and implement strategies that suppress ticks and mosquitoes and the pathogens they spread.

COE accomplishments

  • Trained thousands of vector control professionals and students through nearly 100 training opportunities.
  • Developed undergraduate and graduate degree programs or certificates in public health entomology at five universities.
  • Spearheaded the creation of regional vector surveillance systems for centralized data tracking.
  • Evaluated effectiveness of innovative mosquito and tick control methods.
  • Provided resources and technical assistance to local organizations.

COEs, 2017—2022

CDC’s COEs were established in 2017 when five universities were awarded $51.5 million over 5 years. These included:

  • Cornell University*
  • University of California, Davis and Riverside
  • University of Florida
  • University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison

*This COE’s workplan extended through December 2022.

Print
Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)