Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

About this Fund

About the Fund

The Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund (IDCCF) addresses the impact of climate change on human health in Canada by:

  • increasing capacity to respond to the rising demands posed by climate-driven zoonotic (diseases that can be transmitted from animals and insects to humans), food-borne and water-borne infectious diseases
  • enabling Canadians and communities to have access to timely and accurate information to better understand their risks and take measures to prevent infection
  • improving adaptation and resiliency to the health impacts of climate-driven infectious diseases, through surveillance and monitoring activities and access to education and awareness tools, to equip:
    • Health professionals with the information they need to provide advice to their patients and clients on climate-driven infectious diseases
    • Canadians and communities with the tools to protect themselves from the health risks associated with climate-driven food-borne, water-borne and zoonotic infectious diseases

Priority Areas

Monitoring and Surveillance

  • Building baseline data and enhancing knowledge and expertise to understand, predict, and monitor current and future risks through innovative approaches to surveillance, detection and analysis of climate driven infectious diseases
  • Collaborative and novel approaches for the collection, sharing and use of data to support evidence-based public health actions that equip and empower Canadians to adapt

Education and Awareness

  • Promoting the development, uptake and distribution of education and awareness materials for health professionals
  • Facilitating education, awareness and the dissemination of tools and best practices within or across Canadian communities and among vulnerable populations
Call for proposals

Current status: Closed

This solicitation ran from December 4, 2021 to February 10, 2022.

Call for proposals

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is pleased to launch our next solicitation for projects under the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund. PHAC is currently accepting Letters of Intent from interested applicants to address the impact of climate change on human health.

Solicitation objectives

Projects must align with one of the following three streams. The stream selected should reflect the primary focus of the proposed project activities.

Stream 1: Strengthening capacity on key risks

Strengthen and/or expand capacity on current and future tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases in the context of a changing climate. This stream aims to build from and continue enhancing knowledge, tools and resources on priority disease risks.

Stream 2: Enhancing knowledge

Enhance knowledge related to unexplored, under-investigated or emerging pathogens or infectious diseases in the context of climate change. This stream aims to support novel approaches to investigate, explore and advance understanding of these new or lesser-known pathogens or infectious diseases, and the impacts they have on human health.

Stream 3: Advancing intersectoral collaboration

Advance multidisciplinary and/or multi-sectoral collaboration to better understand risks and drive action on infectious diseases, One Health and climate change. This stream focuses on building collaborative mechanisms, platforms and partnerships, including use of diverse networks and perspectives, to support knowledge sharing and exchange, and to amplify ongoing activities to drive action.

Who is eligible to apply

Canadian applicants who fall under one or more of the following categories will be considered for funding:

  • Not-for-profit voluntary organizations and corporations
  • Unincorporated groups, societies and coalitions
  • Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and agencies
  • First Nation, Inuit and Métis organizations
  • Organizations and institutions supported by provincial and territorial governments (such as regional health authorities, schools, post-secondary institutions)
  • Applicants deemed capable of conducting activities that meet the scope, objectives and priorities of the IDCCF

Ineligible:

  • Federal Canadian Government departments and employees are ineligible for this process. They cannot apply for funding nor can they assist in the preparation of a funding application. However, they can provide in-kind (not-for-profit) support that is non-influential (a letter of support indicating such will be required)
  • For-profit organizations and corporations
  • International organizations, corporations, groups, societies and coalitions

About the application process

Funding details and process

Funds will be disbursed through a combination of single-year or multi-year funding agreements. Multi-year projects are not to exceed three years and a maximum of $150,000 per year of funding.

This is a two-stage application process:

  • Letter of Intent: Applicants must provide sufficient information regarding each of the assessment criteria so that a complete and clear overview of each aspect of the proposed project is provided.
  • Full funding application: Applicants who have successfully provided the required information will be invited to submit a full funding submission.

Projects approved for funding are anticipated to start in April 2023.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying to the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund, please contact PHAC's Centre for Grants and Contributions at cgc.solicitations-csc@phac-aspc.gc.ca for an application package.

In order to remain open, transparent and consistent, questions or clarification requests must be made via email to the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Centre for Grants and Contributions at the above-mentioned email address.

All Letter of Intent applications must be submitted by email. No extensions will be granted. The Centre for Grants and Contributions will acknowledge receipt of proposal packages by email.

The deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent application is 11:59pm of your respective time zone, Thursday February 10, 2022.

Funded Projects

Funded Projects

Projects funded by the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund
Organization Project title Project description Funding amount Duration Project status
Acadia University Assessing mosquito range expansion and vector potential in the Maritime provinces This mosquito surveillance project in the Maritime provinces seeks to improve baseline data of the species present and the potential for transmitting disease. Traditional surveillance techniques will be used (i.e., aquatic sampling for larval stages and trap-collection of adult stages) as well as new molecular technologies that detect mosquito DNA in aquatic samples without requiring exhaustive organismal sampling (e.g., environmental DNA analysis). Website and social media content will engage the public and help to disseminate information to educate and serve local communities. $520,248 April 2020 to March 2025 In progress
Bishop's University Citizen-based surveillance of Ixodes scapularis and other ticks using eTick.ca, a web platform dedicated to image-based tick identification This innovative project brings science into the hands of Canadians. eTick is a bilingual public platform for image-based identification and population monitoring of ticks in Canada. By submitting a tick picture on eTick.ca or through the eTick mobile app, trained personnel identify the tick species, place the submission on an interactive distribution map, and provide any relevant public health information on tick-borne diseases. $1,263,080 September 2018 to March 2024 In progress
Brandon University Surveillance of neglected mosquito- and tick-borne pathogens in the Canadian prairies This project identified and catalogued neglected pathogens infecting Manitoban mosquito and tick vectors and determine their prevalence. This information can be used to inform climate-based risk assessment models for emerging pathogens, and the deployment of tick and mosquito prevention strategies. $251,957 April 2020 to March 2023 Completed
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Empowering the next generation of health care professionals with knowledge, skills, tools, and supports to address infectious diseases related to climate change in Canada This project developed a set of national, evidence-informed, consensus-based tools and e-resources for nurses entering practice to build their knowledge and capacity to engage in public health activities related to infectious diseases transmitted by insects and ticks that are emerging and/or expanding in Canada as a result of climate change. $512,243 July 2018 to March 2021 Completed
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Empowering the next generation of nurses to address climate driven infectious diseases This project builds upon their initial goal of better preparing future nurses to address climate driven infectious diseases by amplifying uptake of the national guidelines for nursing education. Project outputs will include virtual simulations in English and French for nursing students designed to foster achievement of learning outcomes in the educational guidelines, a companion guide supporting the ability of nurse educators to utilize the virtual simulations effectively in nursing courses, as well as a review and update of the E-resource to maximize its efficacy. $440,101 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
Canadian Public Health Association Creating a national forum for knowledge exchange, capacity building and collaboration to address infectious diseases and climate change This project supports the hosting of national forums (2021, 2022, 2023) that bring together public health, health care, as well as professionals and multidisciplinary providers (e.g., urban planners, parks and recreation), to present current evidence and solutions addressing infectious diseases and climate change. Webinars and other knowledge translation and dissemination activities will also be used to understand the knowledge and capacity building needs as well as establish local and national collaboration efforts. For example, the hosting of an annual national poster contest for Grade 6 students which includes the development and dissemination of appropriate resources for teachers $683,648 May 2020 to March 2024 In progress
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association National Baseline Survey of Tick-Borne Disease Awareness/ National Tick-Borne Disease Outreach and Awareness Campaign This project surveyed and gathered baseline data on the level of awareness of tick-borne diseases. This was used to inform the launch of an awareness campaign with three identified populations: veterinarians, pet owners and hunters and anglers to better understand the risks associated with tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and empower veterinarians to credibly inform high-risk stakeholder communities, including pet owners. $250,000 March 2021 to August 2023 Completed
Centre for Effective Practice Lyme disease clinical toolkit This project aimed to improve diagnosis and treatment of early localized Lyme disease to help prevent or reduce patients progressing into later-stages of the disease. This included a clinical toolkit on early Lyme disease management to help health care providers diagnose and treat early localized Lyme disease. A complementary patient resource was also developed to provide information for patients who have been bitten by a tick or diagnosed with early Lyme disease. $195,782 September 2018 to March 2020 Completed
Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat Surveillance activities and raising awareness among the Huron-Wendat Nation regarding Lyme disease risk and prevention This project aimed to contribute to the collection, identification and analysis of ticks in the Nionwentsïo territory, the ancestral territory of the Huron-Wendat Nation, to determine risk factors and at-risk members of the Huron-Wendat Nation (i.e. hunters, youth, etc.) and raise awareness to prevent and minimize the risk of acquiring Lyme disease. $356,387 October 2018 to March 2023 Completed
Conseil des Abénakis de Wôlinak Lyme disease research and monitoring in Abénakis de Wôlinak territory This project supported the development and implementation of a surveillance study to determine whether Lyme disease is present in the Ndakinna territory, the ancestral territory of the Abenaki nation. $45,045 June 2018 to March 2021 Completed
First Nations Health Authority WATCH: We All Take Care of the Harvest. Safe and secure harvesting of marine foods in the context of climate change This project will establish a phytoplankton monitoring program in BC First Nations community self-harvest areas and support the development of science based curriculum to establish a community-based monitoring program to reduce illness, improve knowledge of the impacts of harmful algal blooms, and increase local community and public health system resilience. $498,113 May 2020 to March 2024 In progress
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Determining the Environmental Burden of Lyme Disease in Newfoundland and Labrador This project aimed to better understand the environmental burden of Lyme disease in Newfoundland and Labrador through passive, active and sentinel surveillance. This project also helped to prevent cases of Lyme disease through activities at the individual and population level and through the encouragement of early detection of Lyme disease by physicians and veterinarians. $90,773 April 2019 to March 2020 Completed
Institut national de santé publique du Québec Development of training to monitor native and exotic mosquito disease vectors in Canadian parks and raise awareness among workers and the general population This project supported the development and delivery of training for park managers in Québec. This will enable the training of workers to conduct surveillance and monitoring activities for mosquito populations and raise awareness among parks managers, workers, volunteers and visitors about the risks and preventative measures for mosquito-borne diseases in Québec parks. $176,784 September 2020 to December 2021 Completed
Institut national de santé publique du Québec Development of training for monitoring of Ixodes scapularis ticks in Canadian parks and raising awareness of workers and the general public regarding the risks related to Lyme disease This project developed and delivered training for park managers in Québec enabling them to train workers to conduct surveillance and monitoring activities for tick populations (Ixodes scapularis) and raise awareness among parks managers, workers, volunteers and visitors about the risks and preventative measures for tick-borne diseases in Québec parks. $129,143 January 2019 to December 2019 Completed
Lakehead University Extreme weather event-related infectious disease prevention and control: promoting competency through education interventions delivered to diverse and multi-sectoral learners This project helped to equip resident physicians in Northern Ontario, and other multi-sectoral health and non-health professional learners in other jurisdictions (e.g., through partnership with the University of Toronto), with the knowledge and skills needed to support individuals and communities in the prevention and control of extreme weather events-related to zoonotic, food- and water-borne infectious diseases. $112,152 July 2018 to March 2020 Completed
Memorial University of Newfoundland A study of mosquito population diversity and distribution, viral pathogens and the potential impact of climate change on human health risks in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the French overseas territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon This project explored the distribution of native and invasive species of mosquitoes (Culex pipiens and Aedes japonicas) across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as, due to its close proximity to the province, the French overseas territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Areas targeted included those of significant human population size as well as those previously under-studied (such as the First Nations communities of Sheshatshiu and Coone River). $91,318 June 2018 to December 2021 Completed
Mount Allison University Incidence, location, wildlife reservoir species and biogeographical modeling of leptospirosis in the Canadian Maritimes This project supported a study of the incidence of Leptospirosis in Maritime Canada. Leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease that occurs in rodents, dogs, and other mammals and can be transmitted to humans. Among the many animals that can transmit infection, rodents and other wild animals are important reservoirs of infection. Many of these species are expanding their traditional habitats northwards under the influence of climate change. $101,915 June 2018 to March 2021 Completed
Mount Allison University Field surveillance of tick populations through citizen science partnerships as means for acquiring high-density community surveillance data and facilitating community education This project integrated data from two large, longitudinal existing data collections from New Brunswick and British Columbia to validate the resilience of the Ogden model. It also supported the recruitment and training of volunteers willing to do concentrated long-term sampling from specific geographical sites across the country. $55,632 June 2018 to March 2021 Completed
New Brunswick Department of Health Building capacity of the health care sector (providers and facilities) for climate-driven tick-borne diseases in New Brunswick This project supported building of the health sector capacity through the development of a tick diagnostic laboratory service, surveillance and monitoring activities, and communications strategies (targeting physicians, veterinarians and the public). This provides health care practitioners with the tools and evidence-based information needed for diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to ensure optimal clinical outcomes for patients. $292,300 September 2019 to March 2023 In progress
Provincial Health Services Authority (BCCDC) Climate change and tick-borne diseases: A One Health approach in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan This project explored the urgent need to improve the capacity of communities, front-line health workers, public health practitioners and health services institutions in Western Canada to predict, respond to, and mitigate emerging ticks and tick-borne diseases, (ie. Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp.). This multi-provincial project tackled three key goals to: 1) improve cross-sectoral detection, monitoring and surveillance capacity for selected ticks and tick-borne diseases of importance to human health, 2) increase prediction and response capacity for health professionals and at-risk communities for climate-driven tick-borne zoonoses, and 3) strengthen one health capacity to address climate-driven infectious diseases more broadly. $417,427 October 2019 to March 2023 In progress
Scouts Canada Tick-borne and Lyme disease awareness campaign This project supported the creation of a tick and Lyme disease awareness campaign that includes educational resources, tools and training. For example, a personal achievement badge program, where youth can engage with educational material on tick safety and receive a badge upon completion of the program, an online e-learning module, and distribution of Lyme Disease awareness materials at events hosted by Scouts Canada. $361,728 February 2020 to December 2023 In progress
Simon Fraser University From knowledge to action: Developing a 'One Health' communications platform for regional mobilization This project explores a collaborative, intersectoral strategy and structure for regional One Health Communications Platforms that address local information needs, priorities, and capacities. Canadians face numerous infectious and climate-related health threats that fall at the nexus of animal, human, and environmental health (termed 'One Health'). The development of these Platforms will bridge important gaps between national One Health intelligence and regional mobilization in Canada.
$449,549 April 2024 to March 2027 In progress
Sunnybrook Research Institute Arbovirus surveillance in Ontario; understanding pathogen and vector bioecology and epidemiology in the context of climate change This project examined orthobunya viruses as a threat to health and a model for predicting arboviral activity in non-Culex mosquitoes in the context of climate change. A multi-disciplinary team of virologists, entomologists, zoonotics epidemiologists, modellers, geographers and health practitioners was assembled to address this complex challenge. $300,913 September 2019 to March 2023 Completed
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada Lyme-aid: helping pregnant women and their healthcare providers prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases during pregnancy This project supported the review of current evidence on effect of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases on pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes in order to determine healthcare providers' current knowledge and practices related to prevention and treatment. It also supported the creation and dissemination of resources for women and their healthcare providers with the aim of preventing exposure. $588,914 October 2018 to March 2021 Completed
Toronto Metropolitan University Environmental impacts on recreational water quality in Canadian beaches: epidemiological and predictive modelling to support climate change adaptation and response by local public health authorities This project investigates the impacts of environmental factors on the risk of water-borne infectious disease, from bathing in fresh and marine recreational waters in two regions of Canada. Potential impacts will be investigated using innovative epidemiological modelling and analyses to support adaptation and response by local public health authorities. $521,570 May 2020 to March 2024 In progress
Toronto Metropolitan University Burden of recreational water illness due to cyanobacteria and their toxins in Canadian freshwater beaches This project will investigate the burden of recreational water illness due to exposure to cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins in targeted, popular freshwater beaches in Ontario and Manitoba. Cyanobacterial blooms are a growing public health threat in freshwater beaches in Canada. This project will use a One Health approach and prospective cohort study to identify and characterize risks of acute illness in humans and companion animals due to different levels of exposure from recreational water activities (e.g., swimming, boating, fishing). Additionally, risk perceptions and behaviours of recreational water users toward cyanobacterial blooms will be evaluated to guide risk communication strategies. $449,467 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
Université de Montréal Are parasitic zoonoses in Canada influenced by climate change? Establishing a baseline for evaluation This project will establish the epidemiological picture of selected parasitic zoonoses in Canada as a basis to evaluate how climate might influence their distribution now and in the future. Key deliverables include conducting a systematic review of the literature; centralizing of databases; estimation of the prevalence of four parasitic zoonoses in a representative sample of the Canadian human population; and exploring if the distribution of human cases is associated with socioeconomic, demographic and residence location. Finally, the project will also establish a unique knowledge platform to raise awareness about parasitic zoonoses including to promote One Health collaborations. $450,000 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
Université de Sherbrooke Epidemiology of the environmental fungal infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis in Quebec This project supported the conducting of a retrospective, multicentric, pan-Québec study on the epidemiology of blastomycosis, the fungal infection, Blastomyces dermatitidis to determine the role of clinical and molecular virulence, host and environmental factors in the emergence of this pathogen and the observed increase in the number of severe cases in humans. $293,402 July 2018 to September 2020 Completed
Université de Sherbrooke Tracking exotic and endemic mosquitoes using INland waters and genomics (i.e., The TEEMING project) This project aims to develop a community science approach to monitor the changing distribution of endemic and exotic mosquitoes due to climate change. This will be achieved by using environmental DNA based approaches on water samples collected in natural inland waters (lakes and streams). Over three years, the project will: 1) develop the genomics tools, 2) identify a sampling method amenable to community science programs, 3) apply the methods to an existing community sampling program. $449,153 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
University of Guelph Climate and companion animal zoonoses in Ontario (C-CAZO) This project will identify and describe climate-sensitive companion animal zoonoses and potential health risks; model risks using integrated health and environmental data; and create a One Health Informatics framework for an electronic medical records-based companion animal zoonoses and environmental surveillance system. This will help to build a more comprehensive understanding of climate-sensitive companion animal zoonoses and the ability to monitor them by integrating health and environmental data. $439,247 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
University of Guelph, Department of Population Medicine Evaluating One Health competencies: Are current and future professionals prepared for climate change? This project advanced the development of a framework to assess competencies in students enrolled in One Health programs at the University of Guelph. This will help to assess the skilled professionals who are trained to work across disciplines and can apply systems thinking to interpret, translate and mobilize complex health data to develop and inform effective and sustainable climate policy and programming. $221,251 May 2020 to December 2023  
University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College Developing and assessing the feasibility of applying a One Health approach to leptospirosis surveillance in Ontario This project explores leptospirosis, an infectious bacterial disease that occurs in rodents, dogs, and other mammals and can be transmitted to humans. This project will help to develop and assess the feasibility of employing a One Health approach to leptospirosis surveillance in Ontario and its applicability to other domestic zoonoses. $201,072 June 2020 to March 2025 In progress
University of Ottawa Best practices for urban planning in the context of climate change and emerging tick-borne diseases (UPTick – Phase I) This project characterized and monitored changes in tick populations and tick-borne disease transmission in the context of urban development and greening using a One Health approach. Ultimately, it was used to inform the development of a best practices report for healthy urban planning in the context of tick-borne diseases. $406,728 September 2019 to March 2023 Completed
University of Ottawa Best practices for urban planning in the context of climate change and emerging tick-borne diseases (UPTick) – Phase II This project builds upon the 'UPTick' project in Ottawa and will expand activities to better characterize and monitor changes in tick populations and tick-borne disease risk in the context of urban development using a One Health approach. Ultimately, the project will inform community-based strategies to adapt and reduce public health risks from emerging tick-borne diseases. $444,420 May 2023 to March 2026 In progress
University of Saskatchewan Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative – wildlife health surveillance, monitoring and education This project will conduct wildlife health monitoring and surveillance activities together with health intelligence expertise to provide greater situational awareness of changing or emerging infectious diseases as well as long-term indicators of wildlife health in Canada in the context of climate change. This includes efforts in infectious disease detection, trend analysis of changing vector-borne diseases, and greater understanding of disease emergence or changing patterns and host susceptibility. Additional anticipated outcomes include assessing food security related to wildlife, community resilience and preparation for unanticipated threats. $800,000 December 2021 to March 2024 In progress
University of Saskatchewan The impact of lethal rat (Rattus spp.) control techniques on the ecology of climate-driven vector-borne zoonotic pathogens and associated human health risks in urban centres This project examined the effect of lethal rat control on the ecology of Bartonella spp. (a flea-borne zoonosis) in wild rats from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood to inform and revise rat control strategies to ensure urban cities are better prepared to manage zoonotic disease risks, particularly those that will likely increase in the face of climate change. $81,814 September 2018 to March 2021 Completed
University of Saskatchewan 5th International One Health Congress This project supported the hosting of the 5th International One Health Congress in Saskatoon (June 22 to 25, 2018). This event brought together 1,000 key scientific policy makers and practitioners from universities, governments and industry working towards integrated approaches and effective responses to complex global health challenges. $200,000 May 2018 to March 2019 Completed
University of Saskatchewan Companion animal surveillance: One Health evidence for assessing human health risks in western Canada This project, building upon evidence that suggests up to two-thirds of human pathogenic organisms are zoonotic and up to three-quarters of emerging human pathogens originate from animal reservoirs, including companion animals, will develop and establish a companion animal surveillance initiative within the Prairie Provinces, identifying best practices of disseminating disease occurrence and risk factor information to both animal and public health stakeholders. $295,040 May 2020 to March 2024 In progress
University of Winnipeg, Prairie Climate Centre Stories of Health and Hope: climate change, infectious disease, and community based adaptation This project developed and shared stories of Health and Hope to bring together science and storytelling regarding climate change, infectious disease, and how these issues combine to affect public health. It also offered engagement and learning opportunities for diverse actors - including Indigenous leaders, experts, citizens, practitioners, and policymakers - to support community-based resiliency. These outcomes are shared on the Climate Atlas of Canada. $500,000 March 2018 to August 2022 Completed
University of Winnipeg, Prairie Climate Centre Sharing stories of health and climate change: Building resiliency through knowledge, awareness and collaboration This project continuation highlights sharing Stories of Health and Climate Change to bring together science, storytelling, and innovative communications approaches, enhancing the knowledge and awareness of Canadians about climate change, infectious diseases, and public health. Through workshops, interviews, and dialogue the Prairie Climate Centre will explore and document the health impacts, best practices in adaptation, and knowledge gaps in climate change, and public health. These findings will support the creation of knowledge translation materials hosted on the Climate Atlas of Canada.
$450,000 November 2022 to October 2025 In progress
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Exploratory study of the presence of invasive mosquito species in Leamington, Ontario This project advanced mosquito surveillance and monitoring activities in Leamington, Ontario. It also supported greater coordination with Parks Canada to initiate a mosquito surveillance program in Point Pelee National Park. This provides valuable information regarding the types of mosquito species residing in the region, presence of invasive mosquito species and documenting their establishment as well as vector-borne disease activity locations through testing mosquito pools. $265,098 September 2019 to March 2022 Completed

For more information about the IDCC Program or Fund, please contact the Program at idccp_pmicc@phac-aspc.gc.ca

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