New Funding Opportunity: National Priorities: Innovative Sampling Designs for Public Health Surveillance of Coronaviruses and Other Pathogens in Wastewater Request for Applications (RFA) and Informational Webinar
Date and Time
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Registration Deadline
Location
United States
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Event Type
Description
New Funding Opportunity: National Priorities: Innovative Sampling Designs for Public Health Surveillance of Coronaviruses and Other Pathogens in Wastewater Request for Applications (RFA) and Informational Webinar
COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.
Open/Close Dates: October 20, 2021 – December 15, 2021
Background: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a new funding opportunity for innovative research that explores how a wastewater monitoring network can be rapidly and effectively designed and deployed to address current and future pandemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for effective tools to monitor the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Wastewater sampling has been widely deployed as a cost-effective, screening-level approach to assess infection levels in communities. EPA expects the research funded under this announcement will improve how wastewater surveillance systems are used for detection of pathogens in community populations. This research should also help public health officials make decisions by providing practical structures for the effective use of wastewater surveillance data in infectious disease control.
The proposed research project should address all three research areas described below.
- Develop appropriate survey design(s)/sampling strategies to optimize wastewater monitoring networks for detection and monitoring of emerging nationwide threats (i.e., the next epidemic/pandemic).
- Develop a framework for adapting the wastewater monitoring strategies based on characteristics of the pathogen, its infection, transmission processes, and target population(s).
- Develop a strategy to provide actionable wastewater monitoring information to public health officials and utilities to inform efforts to control an epidemic/pandemic.
In addition, the research should include a real-world evaluation of the feasibility, implementability and effectiveness of the wastewater monitoring strategy and sampling network design. The evaluation should include at least several communities in different geographical areas, including underserved communities with limited resources, to understand how the strategy could be applied.
For information on eligibility, project specifications, or how to apply, visit: National Priorities: Innovative Sampling Designs for Public Health Surveillance of Coronaviruses and Other Pathogens in Wastewater Request for Applications (RFA)
Learn more about EPA Research Grants.
Informational Webinar
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Join us for an informational webinar on this funding opportunity. The webinar will cover application information and provide an overview of what has already been provided in the RFA.
Webinar Objectives:
- Share general information and information on research areas for the RFA (EPA Project Officer)
- Learn about the submission, eligibility, relevancy review and peer review processes (EPA Eligibility, Submission, and Peer Review Officers)
- Question & answer session
A copy of the webinar presentation will be available on the RFA webpage for those unable to participate in the scheduled webinar.