is protected. (9) Access to data and enable emerging technologies to improve patient care, sharing data with researchers and care providers. (10) Coordination with other Federal departments to address tick- and other vector-borne diseases including the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Homeland Security. (11) Coordination with the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act ( 42 U.S.C. 284s ) to develop and implement recommendations. (12) Coordination with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight against Lyme disease, and other tick- and vector-borne diseases globally. 3. Regional Centers of Excellence in Tick and Vector-Borne Diseases (a) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the heads of other agencies as appropriate, shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities (such as institutions of higher education, State, tribal, and local health departments, associations, or other appropriate entities) for the establishment or support of Regional Centers of Excellence in Tick and Vector-Borne Diseases. Such Regional Centers shall be designed to address Lyme disease and other tick and vector-borne diseases by— (1) building collaboration between academia and public health agencies for surveillance, prevention and response to Lyme disease and other tick and vector-borne diseases