CRDF Global Awarded CDC Cooperative Agreement to Strengthen TB Control and Prevention Efforts in support of PEPFAR

Arlington, VA –CRDF Global announced today that it has been awarded a 5-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Center for Global Health to provide high- quality, targeted technical assistance to strengthen national tuberculosis (TB) control and prevention programs in PEPFAR-supported countries and countries with high TB burden.
“CRDF Global will leverage its 20-year history in capacity building to provide sustainable technical assistance with the aim of decreasing the spread of TB, increasing the understanding of TB control procedures at local, regional, and national levels, and improving partner countries’ technical capacity and ability to measure the impact of TB policies,” said CRDF Global Project Technical Advisor, David Ausdemore.
A former International Technical Advisor at the CDC, Ausdemore has over 20 years of experience conducting international assessments and providing capacity building trainings, particularly as they relate to public health and infectious diseases. Throughout his career, he has provided technical assistance to more than 30 PEPFAR countries for HIV/AIDs biomedical interventions, health systems strengthening, and biosafety programs.
Despite being preventable and treatable, TB threatens the lives and well-being of millions of people each year, including people living with HIV. With drug resistant TB incidence rapidly increasing, the prevalence of this disease is an urgent issue. TB remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting an estimated 13.7 million persons and resulting in 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2015.
CRDF Global will partner with the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), the African Biological Safety Association, the Asia Pacific Biosafety Association, the Biosafety Association of Central Asia and the Caucasus, and the Middle East Consortium on Infectious Disease Surveillance to leverage a vast network of hundreds of highly-skilled technical expert, trained to strengthen international health systems and staff to combat a disease of this magnitude.
“CRDF Global is extremely proud to provide technical assistance to the CDC to implement these important initiatives in support of PEPFAR. Infectious diseases like TB destroy lives, cultures, families, and the economic stability of our communities around the globe. Through our global network of experts and on-the-ground partners, CRDF Global will develop sustainable, evidence-based initiatives that strengthen a country’s ability to implement life-saving TB control and prevention programs,” said CRDF Global President and CEO Michael Dignam.   
About CRDF GlobalCRDF Global is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes safety, security, and sustainability through science and innovation. Established in 1995, CRDF Global promotes international science and technology collaboration through grants, technical resources, training, and services. The organization supports science and technology infrastructure in countries in Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.