This funding opportunity through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control
of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Cooperative Agreement continues to support the Georgia
Department of Public Health (GDPH) in its commitment to build upon programs to directly address
emerging infectious disease threats. Using ELC funds, these programs continue to enhance the capacity
of our state’s public health agencies to effectively detect, respond, prevent and control known and
emerging (and re-emerging) infectious diseases. This will continue to be accomplished through the
application of the financial and technical resources provided by this program toward strengthening
epidemiologic capacity, enhancing laboratory capacity, improving information systems including public
health informatics goals outlines in CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative, and enhancing cooperation
among epidemiology, laboratory, and information systems components of public health departments.
GDPH will further expand its scope of activities funded through ELC by applying for additional programs
and projects over this next five-year renewal period. GDPH will participate in all activities under the
Cross-cutting Emerging Infectious Disease Capacity, Systems, and Leadership Section (I). Previous
supplemental funding through ELC due to the COVID pandemic enabled GDPH to develop its Advanced
Molecular Detection (AMD) program and a National Wastewater Surveillance System in collaboration
with its laboratory. Both of these activities will undergo further development as unique projects under
this new application. GDPH will continue to participate in all Emerging Infectious Disease Programs
supported under ELC directed against foodborne, waterborne, zoonotic, healthcare associated,
antimicrobial resistant, vaccine preventable, respiratory, vector-borne, and tick-associated diseases.
New disease-specific projects that GDPH will seek first time funding for include prion surveillance and to
become an HIV Center for enhanced detection of HIV clusters and outbreaks.
ELC support will enable GDPH will maintain its strong collaboration between epidemiology, laboratory,
and health information system components, as well as with ELC partners, local health departments, and
other partners and organizations within the jurisdiction. Health information systems (HIS) are ever more
critical core aspects of public health for both internal administrative and programmatic units as well as
external partners. Data collected improves service delivery and reporting which leads to more timely
and accurate decision making. Data analytics supports decision making, transparency, and provides
understanding. Efforts to identify and alleviate health disparities among specific populations in Georgia
will be paramount when designing and implementing program activities and analyzing data. GDPH will
continue to strive for a more effective public health workforce, improved use of data to inform best
practices, and to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health disparities from infectious diseases.