Network for the prevention and control of zoonoses

1. Network for the prevention and control of zoonoses

2. Our environment and lifestyles constantly expose us to microbes • Of the 1415 species of infectious agent known to be pathogenic to humans, over 60% are zoonotic • It is estimated that over 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic • The risk from zoonotic diseases is constantly increasing and changing

3. Fragmented Research • Zoonotic disease research is fragmented • Human or Veterinary • Disease agents • Discipline • National & international • Only a few European countries have initiated national integrated approaches • There is limited communication across EU member states • Compounded by different priorities • Fragmented research results in • Duplication of effort, • Competition rather than collaboration • Lack of critical mass in minor diseases

4. Integrated Research • The European Union needs integrated research in food safety so that we can • Develop European-wide policies • Identify and anticipate new risks • Rapidly detect and respond to emerging diseases • Successfully participate in the global food market

5. Med-Vet-Net MED-VET-NET is a European Network of Excellence which aims to integrate veterinary, medical and food sciences, in the field of food safety, at the European level, in order to improve research on the prevention and control of zoonoses, particularly diseases transmitted from food producing animals through food or by other routes. MED-VET-NET also aims to widely disseminate information on zoonotic diseases to educate and advise all stakeholders.

6. 10 countries, ~300 scientists 1 Including medics, veterinarians, epidemiologists, risk analysts, statisticians, immunologists, microbiologists, food scientists & molecular geneticists

7. Virtual Zoonoses Institute • 16 European partners have been integrated into a “virtual institute” supported by: • Legal Consortium agreement • Governance at Institute Director level • A project manager leading a management team of senior institute representatives • Advisory Panel of International Experts • An Administrative Bureau

8. Integrated network implemented by workpackages Scientific Workpackages

9. Strategic scientific integration • Short term missions • Training courses & workshops • Joint 5 year Strategic research plan developed by 60 scientists • Commissioningresearch projects • Annual scientific meeting • Newsletter • Private website • Yellow Pages of resources, skills etc

10. MONTHLY NEWSLETTER www.medvetnet.org

11. Strategic scientific integration • Transatlantic • EUUS-SAFE • FOOD • EULA- • FOODNET • Oceania • ABCRC • NZ • Europe • Short term missions • Training courses & workshops • Joint 5 year Strategic research plan developed by 60 scientists • Commissioningresearch projects • Annual scientific meeting • Newsletter • Private website • Yellow Pages of resources, skills etc

12. European Consortium Veterinary Laboratories Agency Society for Applied Microbiology Danish Institute of Food and Veterinary Research French Food Agency Complutense University Madrid Veterinary Research Institute Inst voor Diehouderij en Diergezondheil BV Associated with MED-VET-NET ID-Lelystad US Consortium Food Safety Research & Response Network (FSRRN)/USDA

13. Knowledge Dissemination • www.medvetnet.org • Public website • Private website • Professional • science • Communicator • Internet experts • Common IT systems • Databases etc

15. Knowledge Dissemination • www.medvetnet.org • Public website • Private website • International meetings • Research journals • Zoonoses journal • TV news • Public radio • Magazine articles in vet, medical and policy areas • Professional • science • Communicator • Internet experts • Common IT systems • Databases etc Training programme for science communicators

16. Scientific Workpackages Integrated network concept

17. Risk Research • Risk assessment model development • Preharvest QMRA development • Concensus European model for Campylobacter in poultry • Trichinella in Pigs • Cost-benefit analyses • Integrating economics into intervention analyses • Policy advice • Prioritorizing zoonotic hazards

18. Epidemiology • Development, standardisation & application of molecular epidemiological tools • Pulsenet Europe; Emerging antibiotic resistance • Development of epidemiological databases • Bat Lyssaviruses; Salmonella SG1 • Improve data analysis • Disease attribution; survey harmonisation • GIS • Methodologies & skills development

19. Host-Microbe Interactions • In vivo and in vitro models • Campylobacter pathogenesis • Identification of virulence determinants • campylobacter; new & emerging salmonella • mechanisms of pathogenicity & colonisation • VT producing E.coli • Comparative genomics and post-genomics • DNA arrays salmonella

20. Detection and Control • Antimicrobial resistance • Beta lactamases • Detection method development & • standardisation; repositories • Food PCR • Trichinella; Cryptosporidia • Giardia; Q fever • Foodborne Viruses

21. Summary • MED-VET-NET aims to integrate zoonoses research in both public health and veterinary institutes across Europe • It has the resources of over 300 key scientists from 15 major public health & veterinary institutes • Dissemination of this expertise to stakeholders including the General Public is essential • professional science communicators are employed & being trained • Expansion and sustainability is needed • To include other European Institutes as collaborators • To generate a GLOBAL NETWORK of research networks encircling the world