Program Description: Influenza transmission among school-aged children and young adults is frequently predictive of subsequent community transmission. Early recognition of school-based transmission of influenza, therefore, could contribute to the timely implementation of mitigation efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality in the wider community. During the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, school absenteeism data were frequently used as proxy for influenza transmission in the community with variable results, primarily due to the low sensitivity of all-cause absenteeism in predicting cause-specific events.

Due to this variability, more studies are needed to assess the utility of cause-specific school absentee data during future pandemics as well as during outbreaks of severe seasonal influenza. This funding opportunity is aimed at facilitating research to develop a school-based absentee monitoring system that could serve as means to rapidly detect influenza circulation in the wider community spread. In particular, the objectives of this FOA are to implement a cause-specific absentee surveillance system at K-12 schools in one or more school districts and to evaluate the relationship between information collected through the cause-specific school-based system and traditional sentinel surveillance systems for influenza. The results of the research will be used to better assess the conditions in which school absentee monitoring data can serve as an early warning system for community-wide circulation of influenza, and potentially other infectious diseases.

Please see the documentation for complete information.

Associate Deans or Designates should submit the following materials electronically to limitedsub@austin.utexas.edu by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013:

1. Dean's or ORU Director's Letter of Nomination
2. Two page maximum lay abstract describing the aims/needs of the proposed research project.
3. Short bio sketch/CV of the UT PI

Each college may submit one (1) nomination.

SPECIAL DATE

January 29, 2013, 1:00-2:00 pm EST. This conference call is for potential applicants to discuss the FOA. 1-866-662-8986, Participant Passcode: 8378091.

**Note to Potential Applicants**

Internal review documents do not reflect the application requirements set forth by the sponsor. Please review solicitation carefully.