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.
ELC funding is critical to support capacity in epidemiology, laboratory, and public health information systems in Indiana. This capacity includes full-time permanent and contractual positions, supplies, training, laboratory reagents and equipment, and IT infrastructure. Elimination of this funding would result in loss of capacity to conduct infectious disease surveillance, investigate infectious disease outbreaks, transmit electronic health data, and educate health care providers and the public. With increasing emerging infectious disease threats such as mpox, measles, and HPAI, COVID-19, MERS, Ebola virus disease, and antibiotic resistant organisms, maintaining this capacity is vital.