Funded Case Study-DENPACT

Dengue preparedness for mother and child health in the dutch caribbean

Genomic surveillance of clade displacement and preparedness planning in Curaçao and Bonaire

Funding Programme:

ZonMw – Strengthening Public Health and Well-being on the ABCSSS Islands

Study Sites:

Curaçao & Bonaire

Funding Awarded:

€100,000

Project Number:

11340012410028

Project Duration:

24 months

Study Scope

The impact of Dengue on Mother and Child Health in Curaçao and Bonaire:

Genomic Surveillance of Clade Displacement and Blueprint Development for Severe Dengue Preparedness

DENPACT focuses on understanding how dengue virus dynamics affect maternal and child health outcomes and how genomic surveillance can support early warning, preparedness, and response strategies in small-island health systems.

Context

Dengue outbreaks continue to pose a significant public health challenge in the Dutch Caribbean, with limited region-specific data on disease severity, vulnerable populations, and outbreak dynamics. Pregnant women and young children are among the most at-risk group, yet evidence to inform targeted preparedness strategies remains scarce.

DENPACT addresses these gaps by integrating virology, epidemiology, and public health research to support evidence-based preparedness planning in Curaçao and Bonaire.

 

 

The Challenge

The consortium aimed to translate a regionally grounded public health challenge into a competitive funding proposal that met national research quality standards while demostrating:

  • Strong societal relevance
  • Scientific robustness
  • Feasible implementation in a Caribbean context
  • Clear contribution to public health preparedness

Key challenges included limited existing data, the need for interdisciplinary integration, and alignment with programme-level priorities on health and well-being in the ABCSSS islands.

Role of PROMAFUN CRIO

PROMAFUN CRIO led the grant development process for the DENPACT project, including:

  • Full proposal writing and structuring
  • Development of the scientific and public health context
  • Consortium design and partner alignment
  • Strategic positioning against ZonMw programme objectives
  • Integration of impact, dissemination, and implementation pathways

This support ensured that the proposal aligned with evaluation criteria while maintaining strong scientific and societal coherence.

Scientific leadership and project implementation are carried out by the Curaçao Biomedical & Health Reseach Institute (CBHRI).

Outcome

The DENPACT proposal was successfully funded by ZonMw and selected within a highly competitive call.

The evaluation committee highlighted:

  • Strong alignment with programme objectives
  • High societal relevance for the Dutch Caribbean
  • A well-structured and feasible research approach

DENPACT was selected among a limited number of funded projects within the programme.

 

Why This Case Matters

DENPACT demostrates PROMAFUN CRIO’s ability to:

  • Translate complex public health challenges into fundable projects
  • Develop strong scientific narratives aligned with funder priorities
  • Build and structure effective research consortia
  • Support funding success in underrepresented regions

This case reflects our approach to strategic grant development, combining scientific understanding with funding expertise to support impactful health research.

Transparency Statement

PROMAFUN CRIO provided strategic grant development and proposal support for the DENPACT project.
The project is coordinated and implemented by the Curaçao Biomedical & Health Research Institute.

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