Capacity building for ecological surveillance of viral hemorrhagic fevers in Sierra Leone | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The grant opportunity titled "Capacity building for ecological surveillance of viral hemorrhagic fevers in Sierra Leone" (Funding Opportunity Number CDC RFA CK16-1605) is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cooperative agreement designed to strengthen Sierra Leone's ability to detect and track viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) threats at their source in the environment. The central idea is that outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens can often be prevented or contained earlier when countries have reliable systems to monitor infections in animal reservoirs, especially in forest ecosystems where many zoonotic pathogens circulate. By focusing on ecological surveillance rather than only human case detection, the program aims to provide early warning signals and better situational awareness about where and when risky pathogens may be present.

This funding opportunity prioritizes building practical, sustainable in-country capacity across the full chain of surveillance work. That includes the ability to collect the right kinds of animal samples in the field, transport them safely, and test them using established laboratory methods for VHFs. A key emphasis is on detection and differential diagnosis, meaning the laboratories and staff should be able not only to detect a pathogen of concern, but also to distinguish between multiple pathogens that may cause similar syndromes or produce similar signals in testing. Another major component is secure, sustainable sample curation, which typically refers to maintaining a well-managed collection of specimens (often including biobanking practices) with appropriate biosafety, biosecurity, documentation, and long-term storage so samples can be used for ongoing monitoring and future investigations.

The surveillance focus is specifically on forest-dwelling animals, reflecting the recognition that wildlife reservoirs can carry viruses with outbreak potential and that understanding infection burden in these animal populations is a core step in mitigating human risk. The opportunity supports establishing an ecological surveillance program structured to promote yearly monitoring, implying routine, repeatable surveillance cycles rather than a one-time field campaign. In practice, that kind of annual monitoring can help reveal trends over time, seasonal patterns, or geographic hotspots, and can support more targeted public health interventions and preparedness activities.

Administratively, the award is offered under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). The assistance listing (CFDA) number is 93.318, and the mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency in technical direction, collaboration, or oversight compared with a standard grant. The opportunity was posted on April 3, 2016, created the same day, and had a closing date of June 1, 2016 (original and current closing dates are the same). The expected number of awards was one, signaling a single recipient or lead organization would likely be responsible for implementing the program, potentially in partnership with local institutions. The eligibility category is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text. The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically means the ceiling was not specified in the summary data and would need to be confirmed in the full funding announcement or related guidance.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at establishing a functioning, repeatable wildlife surveillance system in Sierra Leone that can safely collect and manage samples, perform credible laboratory testing for VHFs, and generate ongoing data about pathogen burden in animal reservoirs. The larger public health purpose is to reduce the likelihood that dangerous viruses circulating in wildlife will go undetected until they spill over into humans, by improving early detection, diagnostic readiness, and long-term specimen management inside the country.

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