Coordinating Research on Emerging Arboviral Threats in the Neotropics II
Official title: Coordinating Research on Emerging Arboviral Threats Encompassing the Neotropics II (CREATE-NEO II)
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11612787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide network will study how dengue, Zika, and other mosquito-borne viruses emerge and spread from the Neotropics to protect people in the US.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $16,200 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI151807-06S8 |
| Project ID | NIH-11612787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
There are no direct patient enrollment requirements in this grant; however, communities in the Neotropics and travelers could benefit from improved public health surveillance and outbreak prevention strategies.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve enrolling patients in a trial or direct clinical interventions.
What this research studies
This grant coordinates partners in the US and multiple Neotropical countries to monitor arboviruses in humans, wildlife, and mosquitoes, and to link landscape factors and extreme weather to spillover and spread. It supports surveillance and diagnostics development, as well as modeling and phylogenetic analyses to understand how viruses move from the Americas toward the United States. The effort involves fieldwork across varied landscapes, incorporating data on hosts, vectors, and human factors to identify when and where spillover is most likely. By aligning experts across countries, the project aims to strengthen early detection and response to arboviral threats at their origin. The center emphasizes collaboration, data sharing, and the generation of tools to prevent introductions into the US.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of emerging arboviruses and stronger prevention strategies to protect people in the US from imported outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous arbovirus surveillance and modeling efforts have improved understanding of spillover and spread, supporting continued investment in this approach.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasilakis, Nikos — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Vasilakis, Nikos
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.