New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC)
Official title: CK22-005 New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11510005 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A regional center in New England will develop better ways to protect people from ticks and other disease-carrying insects, train public health entomologists, and involve communities to reduce tick bites and Lyme disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,999,369 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CK000661-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11510005 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include residents in the six New England states who are exposed to ticks or have concern about Lyme disease and may benefit from community-level prevention measures.
✕Less likely to help
People with no exposure to ticks, or those not living in New England, may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This grant supports a New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC) to advance tick prevention, vector suppression, and public adoption of control measures across six New England states. It includes applied research on personal protection and product use, training programs to grow the public health entomology workforce, and a Community of Practice to keep research aligned with community needs. The effort aims to translate scientific findings into practical, region-specific strategies that reduce vector bites and disease risk for residents. Researchers will collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure that interventions are effective in real-world settings and scalable across communities. The program also emphasizes education and capacity-building to sustain long-term impact in tick-borne disease prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reduce tick bites and Lyme disease cases in New England and strengthen local public health response.
How similar studies have gone: Previous regional and national efforts show that integrated tick-control strategies and community engagement can reduce exposure and disease risk in some settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rich, Stephen M — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Rich, Stephen M
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.