Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00106) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary grant offered through a Cooperative Agreement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU. The core purpose is to fund scientific research and technical assistance that strengthens wildlife disease investigations by applying Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), with an emphasis on Illumina-based sequencing platforms, to improve pathogen discovery in wildlife. In practical terms, the award is meant to help the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) expand its ability to detect and identify infectious agents, including novel or unexpected pathogens that may not be detectable using conventional diagnostic tests.

The project focus sits within the broader workflow of wildlife disease investigation, which the announcement breaks into three phases: pathogen detection and discovery, disease ecology research, and development and deployment of management tools. The NWHC operates across all three phases during real-world responses to morbidity and mortality events involving wild animals, working alongside other agencies and partners as needed. The funding is tied most directly to the first phase, pathogen detection and discovery, because it is aimed at upgrading diagnostic capability when standard assays, targeted PCR tests, or other traditional methods do not provide definitive answers. Typical event response activities referenced in the announcement include necropsy and diagnostic testing of carcasses, application of pathogen detection assays, and, when warranted, field response efforts. The underlying intent is to shorten the time between an unexplained die-off and a credible identification of the cause, and to broaden the range of organisms that can be detected when the suspected agent is unknown.

A key technical theme is the use of Illumina NGS technologies for pathogen discovery. NGS is especially useful in situations where investigators do not already know what pathogen to look for, because sequencing can capture genetic material from a wide range of organisms present in a sample. This can support “unbiased” detection approaches that may reveal viruses, bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens that are rare, highly divergent, or simply not covered by available targeted diagnostic panels. The opportunity statement emphasizes that the goal is to identify novel pathogens that cannot be identified by more traditional means, which signals a priority for discovery-oriented sequencing and associated bioinformatics or analytical support that turns raw sequence data into actionable identifications.

Eligibility is restricted. Applicants must be official participating partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU, which is a structured partnership program designed to facilitate research, technical assistance, and education collaborations. The listing describes eligible applicants broadly as “Others,” but clarifies that eligibility is limited to CESU partners under this specific CESU network. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, the USGS expected to make one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $150,000. The announcement lists an award ceiling and floor of $0, which typically indicates that a specific ceiling/floor was not entered into that field rather than implying no funding; the estimated total funding is the meaningful figure provided. The CFDA program number associated with this opportunity is 15.808 (US Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). The opportunity was posted on June 26, 2014, with an original and current closing date of July 8, 2014, and it was archived on September 26, 2014.

For applicants needing the full announcement details, the posting points to Grants.gov as the additional information source. The listed contact for access issues is Faith Graves at USGS (phone 703-648-7356, email fgraves@usgs.gov).

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