The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres and the concept of twinning

1. Dr François Caya • OIE Regional Representation for the Americas The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres and the concept of twinning Mazatlán, México, 11-12 February 2008

2. OIE Reference Laboratories & Collaborating Centres • Reference laboratories: designated to pursue all the scientific and technical items relating to a named disease on the OIE lists • Collaborating centres: designated to pursue expertise in a specific sphere of competence relating to the management of general questions on animal health issues (e.g. epidemiology, risk analysis, etc.)

3. Reference Laboratories 171 Reference Laboratories in 30 Countries covering68 terrestrial and 25 aquatic diseases: • Function as expert centre for that specific disease • Store and distribute reference reagents • Conduct and validate diagnostic tests • Gather, analyse and disseminate epizootiological data • Provide training • Place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE

4. OIE Reference Laboratories 2007

5. Collaborating Centres 24 Collaboration Centres in 14 Countries: • Operate as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of technique • Propose /develop procedures which will facilitate harmonisation • Provide training to personnel from OIE Members • Place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE Emerging diseases Animal welfare Various topics for CCs Training of Veterinary Services Surveillance ELISA etc….

6. OIE Collaborating Centres 2007

7. Summary table of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres 2007

8. OIE Reference Laboratories in Americas Fish Diseases - Americas

9. OIE Reference Laboratories in Americas Mollusk Diseases - Americas

10. OIE Reference Laboratories in Americas Crustacean Diseases - Americas

11. Application procedures forReference Laboratories and Collaborating Centers OIE Delegates Director General Specialists Commissions Administrative Commission International Committee For Collaborating Centers, relevant Regional Commission may also be involved. Valid for 4 years approval

12. Rights and obligations of Reference laboratories and Collaborating Centres Internal ruleshttp://www.oie.int/eng/OIE/organisation/en_reglementLR.htm Article 5 allows: • use of the title “OIE Reference Laboratory” • put OIE emblem on documents Article 7 requires: • submission of a brief annual report on the activities

13. The concept of Twinning • Creating a link that facilitates the exchange of knowledge and experience between two laboratories • Medium to long-term arrangement to establish diagnostic capacity for specific disease • Not short-term training, must be sustainable • Funding targeted in support of project proposal with identified outcome • Potential candidates for OIE Reference Laboratory • No change in obligations of OIE RL’s and CC’s – TOR, funding, regional obligations – as agreed by CVO of country

14. Rationale for twinning • Uneven geographical spread – mostly northern hemisphere • More than 70% of the 172 OIE Members are developing/transitional countries • Need for better access to scientific expertise for negotiations, certifications, justification of standard setting • To increase global laboratory/diagnostic capacity and expertise

15. Twinning among OIE Reference Laboratories Countries with six or more OIE Reference Laboratories

16. Resolution No.XXI in 2002:The Role of OIE RLs and CCs in Capacity Building for Developing Countries RLs and CCs shall be encouraged to: • enter into partnershipswith developing countries • share scientific knowledge / provide training to laboratories in developing countries • provide expertise in producing vaccines especially those not requiring a cold chain. • provide technical assistance to develop surveillance programmes for disease control 2002 2006 Little progress

17. Acceleration of “twinning concept” • 1st International Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories: December 2006, in Brazil • Members agreed the networking and the twinning incentive for laboratories would lead to a more even geographical distribution of veterinary scientific expertise. • 75th General Session in May 2007 • New Resolution: “The Role of RLs and CCs in Providing Permanent Support for the Objectives and Mandates of the OIE” was adopted OIE should continue to develop its twinning initiatives..

18. Role players • OIE • Support in coordinating project • Funding – World Animal Welfare Fund and donor countries • Facilitate negotiations • Finalise contract and budget • OIE Reference Laboratory (Parent lab) • Driving force • Expert from PL is driver/project leader • Management of budget • Candidate laboratory • Fully committed • Agree to go all the way with partnership • Not a disguise for obtaining funding

19. Twinning process OIE REF. LAB APPLICANT LAB ID possible twinning: Labs CVO Reg. office AGREEMENT DISEASE/TOPIC AGREEMENT HEADS OF BOTH LABS OFFICIAL DELEGATES • Disease/topic • Regional needs • Managing expert • Budget • Work plan • Communication • Milestones PROJECT PROPOSAL BIOLOGICAL STANDARDS COMMISSION OIE DG S & T DEPT DONOUR FUNDING EVALUATION BUDGET

20. Principles for selecting Parent and Candidate Laboratories • Must be supported by Veterinary Service • Must be related to national/regional need • Parent laboratory must have required level of expertise • Candidate laboratory should have potential to make significant improvements • Location must not affect mutual cooperation • Goals must be realistic • Sustainability – human and financial resources – commitment of Government via CVO – can not be indefinitely donor dependant.

21. Project proposal • Proposal to OIE signed by both CVO’s and Directors • Details of team leader and participating experts • CV’s of experts of Parent and Candidate Laboratories • Project plan and timetable (3 year project) • Budget proposal

22. Budget allocation • Exclude equipment • Travel costs and per diem • Laboratory reagents linked to twinning project • Shipping of diagnostic specimens • Training activities and workshops related to twinning project

23. Project risks • Before starting and during project: • Identify project risks • Consider impact on project should they occur • Consider likelihood of occurrence • Consider mitigation actions • Documented contingency plan (Disease outbreaks, change in management, CVO change, budget cuts)

24. Monitoring performance • Stages/phases approach – reporting during intervals of progress • Interim report – every 4 months • Annual reports • Final report • Post-project review

25. Twinning Guide and Project Template/Contract http://www.oie.int/downld/LABREF/A_Guide.pdf • Background • How to apply/proposal • Basic project management • Project plan (objectives, stages) • Regular monitoring • Facilitates efficient applications • Formalizes agreement

26. OIE potential twinning projects • Several proposals already received • Eleven proposals formally signed • Candidate laboratories mostly from Middle and South Asia, Russia, Africa • Most favored diseases. AI, NCD, FMD, Brucellosis • Needs: RVF, Aquatic, AI (Africa, South America)

27. The way forward • Expansion of initiative • Funding • Coordination with other initiatives for laboratory improvement and capacity building

28. World Organisation for Animal Health • Acknowledgement: • Dr. Keith Hamilton • Dr. Tomoko Ishibashi • Sara Linnane • Many thanks ! http://www.oie.int http://www.rr-americas.oie.int