Detection of OIE List A Viruses in Animals and Animal Products
Sweden 2005-2008
Last updated: June 9 2008
Meeting & News
The first co-ordination meeting, Uppsala, Sweden
The first project kick-off meeting was held in Uppsala on 23rd of November 2004. Discussion about the tasks, using the Description of the Work (DOW) as a basis took place. Each sub-task was discussed under the lead of the main responsible participant. The responsible person has shown how the sub-task should be approached, what type of collaboration is needed (including requirements from other participants) and approximate timeframe.
The first co-ordination meeting was held in Uppsala, Sweden on 23rd of November 2004.
The second co-ordination meeting, Budapest, Hungary
The second co-ordination meeting was held in Budapest, Hungary on 9-10th of June 2005. The work performed during fist seven months (November 2004 – May 2005) was presented and disscussed in the Consortium.
Information on the Seventh Framework Programme
Dr. Isabel Minguez-Tudela, the scientific officer of the project (EC, Brussels) attended the meeting on 10 June 2005 and gave a lecture on topic: “Proposal of the Commission for the Seventh Framework Programme and the European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health”. The aim of the Technology Platform is to facilitate and accelerate the development and distribution of the most effective tools for controlling animal diseases of major importance to Europe and the rest of the world, thereby improving human and animal health, food safety and quality, animal welfare, and market access, contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The lecture summarised the following main points:
- General outline of FP7;
- Commission proposal;
- New elements in the FP7;
- Programmes for the period 2007-2013;
- FP7 budget and timetable; etc.
Information about the draft version of Thematic Priority 5: Food Quality and Safety, 4th Thematic Call was presented as well. As the European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health will be driven by the industry, short, medium and long-term goals must be established linked to the development of veterinary products (vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics), which will be needed in the next 15 years.
More information can be obtained at www.cordis.lu/food/.
The third co-ordination meeting, Murcia, Spain
The tird coordination meeteeng took place in Murcia on 12-13th of January 2006. The work performed during the fist year of the project was presented and disscussed in the Consortium. Each workpackage (WP) was discussed under the lead of WP manager. The responsible person has shown how the objectives in workpackage has been approached, what kind of methods were used, which Partner(s) participated to perform the task. A list of deliverables and milestones was revised. The agreements that were accepted during the second coordination meeting in Budapest were revised as well. New agreements were accepted.
The 4th co-ordination meeting, Lisbon, Portugal
The forth co-ordination meeting was held in Lisbon, Portugal on 22-23 September 2006. The work performed during the eight month period (February 2006 – September 2006) was presented and disscussed in the Consortium.
The fifth co-ordination meeting
The fifth Co-ordination Meeting was held in Brescia, Italy on 27-28 April 2007. Seventeen delegates represented the nine partner groups, the external partner and the subcontractors.
The first issue of the meeting was the presentation of current research on detection of the ten viruses. Each group should give a 15-minute presentation about current research on the topic. It was followed by discussion about the tasks, using the Technical Annex (Description of the Work) as a basis. Each sub-task was discussed under the lead of the main responsible of the respective sub-task. The responsible scientists showed how the sub-task were approached, what type of collaboration was needed (including requirements from other participants), approximate timeframe.
Subsequently, new strategies were discussed. Future programme, prospects for publications, homepage, next meeting, and other issues were the further subjects of the discussion.
It was decided that the consortium is asking the EC for a 3 or a 6 months' prolongation of the project, in order to have more time for the finalisation of the development work and for the further intensive dissemination of the results.
The sixth co-ordination meeting
The sixth Co-ordination Meeting was held in Vienna, Austria on 13-14 December 2007. Twenty three delegates represented the nine partner groups, the external partner and the subcontractors.The meeting took place at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV). Prof. Gerrit Viljoen (IAEA, the host of the meeting) opened the event. Short summary about the research at IAEA was presented to the participants. Welcome address of Prof. Sándor Belák, the co-ordinator of the project, took place, as well. Project prolongation, some organisation points and program of the meeting for Day I & II was presented. Afterwards, each group gave a PowerPoint presentation about the interim periodic research activity (April - December 2007) followed by the general discussion.
Presentations and discussion about the nine workpackages (WPs), using the Description of the Work (DOW) and Minutes of the last coordination meeting in Brescia (Italy, April 2007) as a basis took place. Each workpackage (WP) was discussed under the lead of WP manager. The responsible person has shown how the objectives in workpackage has been approached, what kind of methods were used, which Partner(s) participated to fulfil the task. List of deliverables and milestones were discussed. The agreements made during the previous coordination meetings were revised. New agreements were made. Dr. Frank Koenen (co-ordinator of CSFV EU-project, CODA-CERVA, Ukkel, Belgium) attended the meeting on the 2nd day as an invited colleague. He shared general information with the LAB-ON-SITE consortium about CSFV project ongoing research.
Next co-ordination meeting
The Seventh (Final) Co-ordination meeting is planned at the OIE Center in Paris (France) on 12th June 2008.
Co-ordination activities
- Co-ordination in global communication activities within the Consortium, with external partner and with other veterinary institutions worldwide;
- Regular communication with the scientific and economy officers at the EC;
- Organisation and completion of the consortium meetings held in Murcia (January 2006) and in Lisbon (September 2006);
- Representing the project in the scientific community and communication with animal health authorities;
- Representing the project in international organisations (OIE, IAEA, FAO);
- Representing the project in international and national congresses and meetings;
- Directing the project homepage, updating activity;
- Co-operation with following international projects/programmes:
- MED-VET-NET
- EPIZONE
- AVI-FLU
- PATHOGEN COMBAT
- CSFVACCINE & WILD BOAR
- Sida/SAREC programmes
- Co-operation with national projects on molecular diagnostic improvements (FORMAS, SLF, Sandbergs projects);
- Participation in the work of the European Platform for Global Animal Health, representing the project;
- Participation in the work of the OIE Ad Hoc Group on Biotechnology;
- Partnership in consortia and in submitting new proposals on improved detection of avian influenza viruses (FLUTEST) and on training programmes on influenza viruses (FLUTRAIN, ASEM-DIALOG, CON-FLU-TECH). These project have been approved and inter-project links will be established;
- Updating the chapter 1.1.4. in the OIE Manual. Title of the chapter: “Validation and quality control of polymerase chain reaction methods used for the diagnosis of infectious diseases”.
- Directing the work of the OIE Collaborating Centre for the Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction Methods for the Diagnosis of Viral Diseases in Veterinary Medicine. Establishment and maintenance of the links between the project and the OIE CC.
Changes in the scientific teams in the Consortium