2019 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC)

The goal of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) program is to reduce illness and related deaths caused by a wide range of infectious disease threats. The ELC Program provides annual funding, strategic direction and technical assistance to domestic jurisdictions for core capacities in epidemiology, laboratory, and health information technology activities. In addition to strengthening core infectious disease capacities nationwide, this cooperative agreement also supports a myriad of specific infectious disease programs.The Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) builds upon the program that was initiated in 1995 as one of the key activities under CDC’s plan to address emerging infectious disease threats. The purpose of this NOFO is to protect the public health and safety of the American people by enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to effectively detect, respond, prevent and control known and emerging (or re-emerging) infectious diseases. This is accomplished by providing financial and technical resources to (1) strengthen epidemiologic capacity; (2) enhance laboratory capacity; (3) improve information systems; and (4) enhance collaboration among epidemiology, laboratory, and information systems components of public health departments.In the last five years, NCEZID’s extramural funding has increased from $109 million in FY 2013 to $302 million in FY 2017. This increase coincides with increased responsibilities at the state and local level for emerging infectious disease control, notably for emergency responses to Ebola and Zika, and for expanded investment to curb antibiotic resistant infections and modernize public health laboratory capacity. Ebola and Zika funding began as one-time emergency funding, while AR funding is expected to reoccur annually, and base vector-borne disease funding is beginning to grow. Together with food- and water-borne disease program growth, these investments have moved from capacity building to program delivery. In other infectious disease areas, capacity building is still the focus of investments.