EURNEGVECEUROPEAN NETWORK FORNEGLECTED VECTORS AND

VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIONS

Joint meeting VBORNET – EMCAElzenveld Conference CentreAntwerp, Belgium, November 28th-29th 2013

TD1303

MIHALCA Andrei Daniel, DVM, PhDUniversity of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Presentation at VBORNET Fourth Annual General meetingandJoint meeeting VBORNET – EMCAElzenveld Conference CentreAntwerp, BelgiumNovember 27th -29th 2013

EURNEGVEC | EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED VECTORS AND VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIONS

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

BACKGROUND

• Emerging or re-emerging vector-borne diseases

• Climate change and environmental transformations

• Many of them are zoonotic

• Need for interaction between the two medicines

• Pathogens do not conform to political boundaries

• Big differences between COST countries

• Some pathogens locally or generally “neglected”

EURNEGVEC | EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED VECTORS AND VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIONS

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

MAIN AIM

To establish a powerful transboundary network in research and education related to arthropod-transmitted infectious diseases of man and animals, at a time of Global Change, all integrated under the One Health concept

Increasing the quality of human life by decreasing the medical, social

and financial impact of VBDs

HumanHealth

AnimalHealth

Environmental Health

General objectives | Working groups (WG)

• WG1: The “One Health” concept in the ecology of vector-borne diseases

• WG2: Barcoding, molecular diagnosis and next generation sequencing

• WG3: Geospatial tools in vector research

• WG4: Phylogenetics and phylogeography of vectors and vector-borne

pathogens

• WG5: Rare and emerging vector-borne pathogens

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Specific objectives (tasks)

1. To implement the “One Health” concept in the field of vectors and VBDs (research, diagnosis, surveillance, health policies, education)

2. To implement a standardized medical terminology on vectors and VBPs and diseases considering the “One Health” concept

3. To train young scientists during Training Schools and Short Term Scientific Missions in top laboratories

4. To train Early Stage Researchers in general research issues (grant proposal writing, manuscript writing, research management)

5. To indicate and implement standardized and modern research tools in the daily research routine to facilitate metaanalysis

6. To facilitate ToK and disseminate scientific information

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Annual Conferences• One per year (4 during the Action)• Organized by the MC (under the coordination of the

Conference Coordinator) + Local organizing committee• Locations?

2014

2016

2014 - Cluj-Napoca (RO)

2015 -?

2016 - Turku (FI)

2017 - ?

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Annual Conferences• 2014 (Cluj-Napoca, Romania )

• Title:• 1st Conference on Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases

(EurNegEc): with MC and WG Meeting of the COST Action TD1303

• Date proposals• 8-11 April 2014• Deadline for abstract 15 January 2014

• Number of participants to be reimbursed (n=87):• MC Members (n=40)• WG Members (priority to ESR) (n=47): based on abstract submission

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) – 27 countriesCOST Principles for STSMs:

• should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action• geographical and gender balance• applications from ESR should be privileged

Rules• STSM applicants must be engaged in a research programme as a postgraduate

student or postdoctoral fellow, or be employed by or officially affiliated to an institution or legal entity (public of private)

• Duration 5-90 days (single grant period) (may be extended 91-180 days for ESR)

NNC: Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Tunisia, Republic of Moldova, Albania, Morocco, Lebanon, Belarus, Georgia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Palestinian Authority, the, Syrian Arab Republic, Jordan, LibyaIPC: Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

STSMsFinancial support:

• based on the budget requested by the applicant and the evaluation by the Action responsible

• Maximum 100 EUR/day• Maximum 500 EUR for travel expenses• Maximum 2000 EUR/grantee (3000/grantee for a duration more than 91

days)Our internal rules

• Proposed: 25 STSMs/year | average 1000 EUR/STSM (Total budget 25000 EUR)

• STSM Coordinator + WG Leaders + MC Chair (STSM Committee). • Application submitted continuously, but assessed 2 times per year

• Deadline 28 February | Evaluation 1-31 March | Results 1 April• Deadline 30 June• If additional budget is available, the MC/CG can decide for one more

application session(s)

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

STSM rules draftDocuments required for application

1. Written agreement of the host institution2. Correctly filled on-line application form 3. CV4. Full work plan (study/research/training)5. Motivational letter (guidelines!)6. Recommendation letters7. Self-signed statement regarding any previous COST-related financing from the past

• Grading• points 4-5 graded from to 5 pts (excellent) to 1 pt (rejected)• ESR 0.3 pts• not in the same year (rejected)• not in the same lab (per action) (rejected)• Ranking• if more applicants get the same points, they will be ranked according to age, gender

(favor the minority gender), nationality (avoid repetitions)• waiting list (if selected applicants refuse from various resons)• the budget for each STSM will be decided by the STSM Committee, according to the

destination and according to COST rules

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Training schools (TS)COST Principles and rules for TS:

• at least 3 trainees to 1 trainer• duration 3-15 days• location: any participating COST country/NNC Institution• MC/CG must decide on the eligible participants (trainees and trainers)• Selection criteria and eligibility for trainees

• affiliation to COST, NNC or EU-RTD• country and sex balance• priority to ESR

• Selection criteria and eligibility for trainees :• affiliation to COST, NNC, IPC, EU-RTD• maximum 4 invited speakers• no repetition of invited speakers is recommended

• Recommended budget• Trainers: similar to meetings• Trainees:

• maximum 160 EUR/day• maximum 300 EUR for travel expenses• maximum 1500 EUR/trainee

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

www.eurnegvec.org

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

Still missing countries• Austria• Cyprus• Denmark• Iceland• Latvia• Lithuania• Luxembourg• Malta• Sweden

Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

BelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCzech RepublicEstoniaFinlandFranceFYR MacedoniaGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandIsraelItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited Kingdom