Public health infrastructure

March 17, 2026

Call for Abstracts: AJPH Supplement - Insights from the Public Health Infrastructure Grant

The American Journal of Public Health will publish a special supplement focused on the Public Health Infrastructure Grant in November 2027.

The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), in collaboration with the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), invites original articles on practitioner experiences and outcomes related to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). The grant funds 107 state, local, and territorial and freely associated state health departments to help meet critical infrastructure needs and strengthen foundational public health capabilities.

The supplement will highlight the use and impact of the funding, as well as promising and innovative practices, and lessons learned. The goal of this supplement is to elevate actionable lessons for building infrastructure for the broader public health field and inform future infrastructure investments. AJPH seeks submissions from PHIG grant recipients and sub-recipients, federal and national partners and their staff (e.g., training and technical assistance providers, evaluators, and other support staff) that have been funded by the PHIG grant.

AJPH seeks articles that align with one or more of the following grant areas:

Workforce development and capacity building
Foundational capabilities and organizational systems
Public health data modernization, including interoperability and data exchange

The intent of the supplement is to include articles across the range of grant areas and eligible recipients and partners outlined above. Attention to sustainability, financing and scaling of grant efforts is encouraged.

Deadlines and Key Dates

Informational Webinar: April 2, 2026: Register Here
Abstract Submission Deadline: June 30th, 2026. No late submissions will be accepted.
Decision Notifications: September 30th, 2026
Manuscript Submission Deadline: February 26th, 2027
Supplement Closes: August 2027
Journal Publication: November 2027

Submitting an Abstract

Authors interested in submitting a full manuscript to the supplement should first send an abstract by June 30, 2026, via Smartsheets. Please visit the AJPH website to review the Instructions for Authors and specific guidelines for various types of manuscripts and associated abstracts. In addition to abstract requirements outlined on the AJPH website, please ensure your abstract is submitted as a Microsoft Word document, is up to 500 words, and includes the following components:

Background or context
NOTE: This section should describe the background or context of the PHIG strategy, problem or question(s) being addressed in the article and not focus on the background of the PHIG grant itself.
Methods or approach
Results or insights
Implications for strengthening public health infrastructure and practice.

Please also include author affiliations for all authors and contact information for the corresponding author with your abstract submission. You will be asked to indicate the article format (e.g., research article, opinion editorial) of your proposed submission when you submit the abstract. Editors may recommend a different article format after review to ensure the best fit with journal standards.

The editors will review the abstracts for fit with the goals of the supplemental issue and AJPH editorial standards. Editors will aim for an inclusive set of papers representing a diversity of funded jurisdictions and practices implemented under the grant strategies. Decision notifications will be sent to all abstract authors by September 30, 2026.

Authors of invited abstracts will be asked to submit full manuscripts to AJPH by February 26, 2027, via the AJPH online Editorial Manager. Full manuscripts will undergo internal editorial review by AJPH editors and, where appropriate, external peer review as defined by AJPH policy.

How to Submit an Abstract

Use this form to submit an abstract

SUBMIT HERE

Article Formats

Articles in the following AJPH formats are welcome:

Full and Brief Research Articles: AJPH encourages quantitative studies using survey data and comparative designs. Qualitative studies can be considered for the Research Article format only if the study uses rigorous methods for design and analysis, includes a sample size that is sufficient to answer the research question(s), and describes the methods and results following appropriate reporting guidelines.
Practice Evaluation (formerly Notes from the Field): This format is appropriate for articles focused on implemented and evaluated interventions that have implications for the practice of public health.
Analytic Essays: This format is appropriate for the critical analysis of public health issues, typically supported with theories and frameworks.
Editorials: This format is appropriate for sharing practice experiences and practitioner perspectives without reporting on research or evaluation findings.

Refer to the AJPH website for more detailed definitions and guidance for these article formats.

Related Webinars

NNPHI will offer webinars and writing coaching to help authors plan, write, and edit abstracts and invited articles. Information about these webinars will be posted here and distributed via email channels to PHIG recipients and partners.

April 2, 2026: 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET: PHIG AJPH Supplement Introduction. Register here
This session will outline the purpose and goals of the supplement, its alignment with PHIG priorities, eligibility criteria, submission requirements, and key dates. Designed for PHIG recipients and partners interested in sharing their work, the webinar will clarify expectations for participation and review available technical assistance and supports to help recipients successfully navigate the submission process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to submit an abstract for this supplemental issue? 

The 107 grantees funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant, as well as public health partners, (e.g., T/TA providers, evaluators, practitioners, and public health institutes) that were part of PHIG.

Are organizations that received funding from PHIG grantees and not directly from CDC eligible to submit an abstract for the supplemental issue?

Any organization that received funding from PHIG grantees to complete work under CDC’s Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant are eligible to submit an abstract.

I'm a first-time author. What resources, tips, or tools are available to help me write my abstract? 

NNPHI will offer webinars and writing coaching to help authors plan, write, and edit abstracts and invited articles. We will additionally be offering one-on-one writing coaching sessions for authors of accepted abstracts as they begin their manuscript drafting. More information will be provided about manuscript writing coaching after decisions are made on September 30, 2026.

When will authors receive notification about being invited to submit a full manuscript to the supplemental issue?

All abstract submissions will receive decision notifications by September 30, 2026, and full manuscripts are due by February 26th, 2027.

When will the supplemental issue be published?

The supplemental issue will be published in November 2027.

Who do I contact to inquire about the status of a manuscript for the supplemental issue? 

After being invited to submit a full manuscript, send inquiries about the status of manuscripts to PHIGSupplement@nnphi.org

How do I know if my manuscript topic is an appropriate fit for the theme of the supplemental issue? 

We recommend reviewing the call for abstracts and considering the goals and audience for the journal. You may also email PHIGSupplement@nnphi.org with questions concerning fit of your abstract for this supplemental issue.

What if I don’t have extensive evaluation data about my best practice or intervention? 

The Practice Evaluation (formerly Notes from the Field) format is intended for articles that describe the implementation of a public health strategy such as a program, intervention, or grant-funded activity and includes results from a formal evaluation of that effort. However, if your article focuses primarily on practice experiences, perspectives, or lessons learned from implementing PHIG strategies without a formal evaluation component, AJPH has advised that the abstract be submitted as an Opinion Editorial. For more information about this article type, please visit the AJPH website.

Contact

For questions or additional information about this supplement, contact: PHIGSupplement@nnphi.org.

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This work is supported by funds made available in whole from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Author(s)

Chloe Lake Senior Communications Manager