Friday, April 18, 2025
4/18/2025
Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling & Analytics and Training Hub (CIDMATH) - This application is for the Mandatory Component, Optional Component 2 (Innovations in Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling) and Optional Component 5 (Coordinator of the Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling Network). The Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling & Analytics and Training Hub (CIDMATH) will work closely with CDC and community partners to stand up infrastructure to harness innovative analytic methods and data streams. Emory CIDMATH will be a center for innovators to design, implement, and refine new and enhanced analytical tools - all embedded within a partnership firmly rooted in the principles of public health practice. CIDMATH is housed at the world-class institution of Emory University in Atlanta. Our team brings deep technical expertise in infectious disease modeling, forecasting, vaccine epidemiology, behavioral science, data science, genomics, computing, allied disciplines, and government experience. During the pandemic, we deployed these skills to aid decision-makers at all levels: locally (Emory and other community IHEs); regionally (Georgia and local public health districts); nationally (CDC); and global (WHO). To accomplish the mission of the Mandatory Component, the CIDMATH team will undertake three major activities. 1) Strengthen and expand our alliance with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), utilizing existing infrastructure as the basis of staffing and data sharing agreements. 2) Create an Infectious Disease (ID) Data Hub comprised of diverse data streams, including demographic, clinical, immunization, and outcomes data from multiple hospital partners. 3) Designate a CIDMATH Modeling Core to deploy our multi-disciplinary team of modelers and analysts to generate robust disease reports on exemplar pathogens norovirus and influenza and on emerging priorities. To address Component 2, Innovations in Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling, the CIDMATH team will develop new and enhanced analytical tools in Strategy 2 to (a) parameterize a pathogen’s generation interval using novel social contact data, (b) characterize pathogen growth from sequence data, (c) estimate intervention effectiveness using trial emulation, and (d) evaluate machine learning techniques for forecasting. In Strategy 3, the CIDMATH team will develop two new novel data streams and associated analytical products; we will (a) collect and curate a prospective time-series of human contact and social mixing behavior, a key modeling data gap that we are uniquely positioned to fill, and (b) data from a large, national wastewater surveillance system to generate improved detection of emerging variants or pathogens. To train the next generation of modelers and support the public health workforce in Strategy 4, the CIDMATH team will lead and expand the Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling of Infectious Diseases, upskill Emory’s enthusiastic student outbreak responders, and build upon our successful program of placing fellows within state and local public health departments. To address Component 5, Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling (OADM) Network Coordinating Center (CC), the Emory CIDMATH team, deeply experienced with leading diverse public and private partnerships, will work with network investigators and partners to support innovators in modeling and forecasting by providing three specific support mechanisms: 1) consistent meetings and an annual conference to share and develop ideas, best-practices, and advancements; 2) creation of the Prediction and Ensemble Hub; and 3) public-facing forecasting interpretations through a Data Visualization and Dissemination Hub. The CC will create cohesiveness across all network sites, CDC, and outside networks to foster a collaborative network for public health response and preparedness to outbreaks.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).