41 - Investing Federal Dollars Locally: The NEVBD Center for Excellence and TEC as a Partner for Vector Control

Abstract: The Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEVBD) is a collaborative network of researchers, public health experts, and vector-borne disease (VBD) professionals working to address VBD threats across 13 northeast and mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia. NEVBD was founded in 2017 through CDC federal funding. The efforts of our collaborative network directly support our regional VBD workforce at both the state and local level. We provide hands-on, no cost continuing education programs and technical assistance as well as direct services for technical advising and resistance testing to local programs. We also support national working groups connecting vector control experts on shared goals and we engage in applied research collaborations. In this presentation, we will highlight several applied partnerships between NEVBD and state and local public agencies that address pressing challenges and emerging VBD threats. These include 1) evaluating larval control for Culiseta melanura, 2) investigating the ecology of Jamestown Canyon virus, 3) optimizing surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis virus, 4) investigating pesticide resistance in mosquito populations to common active ingredients, and 5) optimizing and expanding capacity for surveillance of ticks and tickborne pathogens. In addition, we will share our experiences communicating with legislative decision-makers on the value of VBD funding for state and local programs, including the Kay Hagan TICK Act and SMASH Act.