40 - Benefits of CDC's investment in regional centers to strengthen applied research and training through public-health partnerships

Abstract: Beginning in 2017, CDC funded five regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, with the goal to reinvigorate applied research on methods to reduce vector biting and vector‐borne diseases, provide training in public-health entomology and related fields, and foster a greater “community of practice” among academic researchers, public health, and vector control agencies. Since 2022, CDC has increased the investment in these areas through ongoing support for four Centers of Excellence and five Training and Evaluation Centers. Collectively, these centers have been a boon for public-health research and training and have yielded key gains in the workforce and the evidence to inform vector control strategies. As an example of the centers’ impact, this presentation will consider the progress made by the Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases and its strong partners in vector control and public health, which together have reshaped applied research priorities and career opportunities throughout the region.