Continuing Enhanced National Surveillance for Prion Diseases in the United States
🏛 Centers for Disease Control - NCEZID
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations that can operate a specialized diagnostic laboratory for human prion diseases (TSEs). Eligible applicants typically include public health laboratories, academic medical centers, and research institutions with existing diagnostic capacity or ability to develop it. The award funds continued surveillance operations at the national level to confirm suspected prion disease cases and monitor for emerging diseases.
Geographic scope is national. The grant supports diagnostic laboratory services, staff expertise, equipment maintenance, and epidemiological collaboration with CDC partners. Activities focus on brain tissue analysis, disease confirmation, trend monitoring, and identification of disease subtypes.
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Key dates
- Jul 10, 2026 Applications open
- Mar 27, 2027 Application deadline in 254 days
- Aug 31, 2027 Award announced
- Aug 31, 2027 Project start
Program description
The CDC announces the availability of FY 2027 funds for a cooperative agreement to continue enhanced national surveillance for human prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), in the United States. The purpose is to continue an active surveillance program to help confirm suspected and clinically diagnosed cases of human prion disease and to monitor the occurrence of potentially emerging human prion diseases in the United States. Outcomes are enhanced national surveillance for always fatal human prion diseases through improved diagnoses and continued monitoring for emerging or new prion diseases in the United States. These outcomes are accomplished through the funding of a specialized center to conduct state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques. Prion diseases can only be confirmed through brain tissue analyses, and many facilities lack the expertise and/or the willingness, due to infection control concerns, to handle and accurately diagnose specimens from suspected cases. Since 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded a center to provide prion disease diagnostic services, which has allowed for disease confirmation, evaluation of disease trends over time, and identification of disease subtypes. Data have been shared with CDC experts who partner with center staff, providing guidance and epidemiological knowledge. This collaboration has contributed to accurate national surveillance findings and helped to provide confidence that novel prion diseases, such as a human form of the animal prion disease, chronic wasting disease, have not been occurring in the country.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Work
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity Statement (lab credentials, certifications)
- Letters of Support/Collaboration
- Key Personnel CVs
- Organizational Charts
- Evidence of Institutional Biosafety Committee approval
Program contact
- 👤 Lisa Angel
- 📧 langel@cdc.gov
- 📞 404-639-1083
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.317 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$128,573,508
-
$126,781,816
-
$126,671,974
-
$121,258,907
-
$119,261,386
-
$116,271,461
-
$110,290,092
-
$99,990,183
-
$79,130,349
-
$76,866,814
Top States by Funding
- NY 3 awards $207.6M
- NC 2 awards $181.0M
- IL 2 awards $169.3M
- GA 1 awards $126.8M
- CA 1 awards $121.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.317). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $165,739,689 | |
| 2025 | $65,534,244 | |
| 2026 est. | $65,534,244 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this cooperative agreement?
Organizations with capacity to operate a specialized diagnostic laboratory for prion diseases, typically public health labs or academic medical centers. Strong laboratory credentials and existing diagnostic capability are essential.
What is the funding range and award period?
Awards range from $3 million to $25 million. Typical project duration is 5 years, though the exact period should be confirmed in the solicitation.
What activities are funded?
Laboratory diagnostic services for prion disease confirmation, brain tissue analysis, trend monitoring, disease subtype identification, and epidemiological collaboration with CDC.
Is cost sharing required?
No. This cooperative agreement does not require matching funds or cost sharing from the applicant.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. This specialized surveillance program has historically funded a single center since 1997. Only organizations with exceptional laboratory expertise and diagnostic capacity should apply.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your laboratory's current diagnostic capacity and credentials for handling infectious brain tissue. Highlight existing equipment, trained staff, and safety protocols.
- Demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively with CDC epidemiologists and public health partners. Describe past partnerships and communication channels.
- Explain how your center will handle the infection control challenges unique to prion diseases. Address biosafety levels, staff training, and specimen management procedures.
- Provide detailed data on case volumes, turnaround times, and diagnostic accuracy from your facility's past work. Use metrics to show performance.
- Address how you will monitor for emerging prion diseases and respond quickly to suspected cases. Describe your surveillance infrastructure and alert systems.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to demonstrate existing diagnostic laboratory capacity and credentials for handling prion diseases. Underestimating the specialized expertise, training, and biosafety infrastructure required. Weak collaboration plans with CDC and state/local public health agencies.
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