# Coordinating Research on Emerging Arboviral Threats Encompassing the Neotropics (CREATE-NEO)

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2021 · $323,943

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The Coordinating Research on Emerging Arboviral Threats Encompassing the Neotropics (CREATE-NEO)
network provides a nimble and flexible network of surveillance sites in Central and South America coupled to
cutting-edge modeling approaches to anticipate and counter emerging zoonoses and arboviruses. CREATE-
NEO forewarns local, regional, and global public health agencies of zoonoses and arboviruses that pose
particularly high risk of spillover, emergence into transmission among humans, and/or international spread. The
parent grant 1U01 AI151807 supports CREATE-NEO operations during typical conditions of emerging zoonoses
and arbovirus activity. Since, 2020 we have built local capacity to detect, predict and respond to such emergence
events at their point of origin, thereby maximizing the potential to avert full-blown emergence. Critical activities
included: (i) genomic surveillance with deep sequencing and comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of dengue
virus in Sao Jose do Rio Preto (SJdRP), Brazil; (ii) vector and non-human primate surveillance in Brazil and
Panama; and (iii) characterization of human cases of Zika, dengue and Ilheus virus infections associated with
cerebrovascular and encephalitic events. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we expanded our activities
to include: (iv) characterization of human cases of SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus coinfection; (v) surveillance
of NHPs for potential spillback of SARS-CoV-2; (vi) supporting genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in
SJdRP and Panama; and (vii) supporting clinical surveillance of arbovirus circulation in Panama and Brazil.
Thus, the emergence and rapid spread of SARs-CoV-2 offers an example of our capacity to quickly redirect
resources to address any emerging zoonotic or vector-borne diseases. This U01 supplement will continue and
expand these emergency activities in support of NIH-funded and other international research on SARS-CoV-2
through the following supplemental activities related to the parent grant’s original aims. We will expand our
genomic surveillance capabilities of SARS-CoV-2 variants in SJdRP and Panama. We will characterize both
between-host and within-host diversity through deep sequencing using Illumina technologies and perform
comprehensive phylogenetic studies using complete genomic sequences of SARS-COV-2 to infer patterns of
virus spread and to inform hypotheses regarding variation in transmissibility and clinical outcomes (Aim 2e).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10426817
- **Project number:** 3U01AI151807-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathryn Alyce Hanley
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $323,943
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-08-31 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10426817

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10426817, Coordinating Research on Emerging Arboviral Threats Encompassing the Neotropics (CREATE-NEO) (3U01AI151807-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10426817. Licensed CC0.

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