Building a National Network for Alpha-gal Syndrome Awareness, Surveillance, and Response - The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), in partnership with Quest Diagnostics, the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, and a network of public health institute partners, proposes a national initiative to increase awareness and knowledge of Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) in the United States. AGS is an emerging tick-associated allergic condition that can cause delayed allergic reactions to mammalian meat and mammal-derived products. Reactions may include gastrointestinal symptoms, urticaria, and severe anaphylaxis. AGS remains underdiagnosed and underreported, and the national burden is difficult to define because AGS is not nationally notifiable. This project will strengthen the public health response to AGS through three integrated strategies: Share, Educate, and Track. Under the Share strategy, NNPHI will establish and maintain a national AGS Community of Practice and convene annual AGS professional meetings. These activities will connect public health professionals, healthcare providers, researchers, diagnostic laboratories, environmental health professionals, vector control partners, patient advocates, and federal partners. The Community of Practice and annual meetings will support peer learning, dissemination of emerging evidence, sharing of surveillance findings, and development of a sustainable AGS professional network. Under the Educate strategy, NNPHI will develop healthcare provider training, public health education resources, patient-informed communications, and public awareness materials. Resources will address AGS epidemiology, tick bite prevention, symptoms, sources of alpha-gal exposure, diagnostic testing, patient management, surveillance practices, and public health reporting. NNPHI will conduct patient listening sessions and develop a national public awareness campaign supported by a dedicated AGS microsite. In collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, the project will also explore opportunities to integrate AGS content into public health and medical curriculum and develop an AGS certificate program for graduate students. Under the Track strategy, NNPHI will strengthen surveillance coordination and reporting for AGS. NNPHI will work with Quest Diagnostics, the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, CDC, public health institutes, and other partners to assess the use of aggregated and de-identified diagnostic testing trends, identify emerging geographic patterns, and develop dashboards, reporting resources, and communication toolkits. The project will establish surveillance coordination channels, conduct tabletop exercises, and support partner use of AGS surveillance information for public health action. Expected outcomes include a stronger national AGS professional network, increased availability of AGS educational and communication resources, improved provider and public knowledge of AGS prevention and recognition, stronger surveillance coordination, and improved use of diagnostic and surveillance data to guide prevention and response. Over the five-year project period, NNPHI and its partners will build sustainable infrastructure to improve awareness, support earlier recognition, strengthen public health surveillance, and enhance national capacity to respond to the continued emergence of AGS.
