FP6 and International Cooperation- Project Synopses
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN FP6 Project Synopses Directorate-General for Research 2007 International Cooperation EUR 22969 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 LEGAL NOTICE: Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Disclaimer: The content of this catalogue is based on the information available at the signature of the contracts A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007 ISBN 978-92-79-06569-9 © European Communities, 2007 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER Pictures ©Shutterstock, 2007 Foreword “Specific measures in support of International Research contributed to the solution of specific problems Cooperation” in the 6th Framework Programme (FP6). faced by third countries through equitable partnerships. Diversified objectives and approaches accommodated In January 2000, the Commission launched its initiative to the specific nature and needs of the different regions establish the European Research Area (ERA)1. The objective and countries of the world involved with these specific is to make the best possible use of scientific capabilities and measures in support of international co-operation. These material resources within the EU, through coherent policies activities underpin the Community’s external relations and and the free circulation of knowledge and personnel. ERA development aid policies, in particular the fight against is open to the rest of the world2, ideally as the fourth pillar poverty, the sustainable development and the commitments in the Community’s foreign policy, trade and development towards the Millennium Development Goals. The key areas aid programmes. The openness to third countries aimed of action included health, rational use of natural resources to make the best use of all the international scientific co- and protection of the environment, food security, cultural operation policies and activities undertaken within the heritage and adjustment of industrial production. European Union, whether at Community level or in Member States. The Communication3 on the International Dimension A total of 1864 research teams participated in 166 projects, of ERA outlines the broad guidelines for a new policy of co-funded by 345 million. The instruments used for the international scientific and technological co-operation implementation of the overall programme were the Specific fulfilling the strategic objectives of opening up the ERA to Targeted Research Projects (STREPS), the Coordination the world. Actions (CAs) and the Specific Support Actions (SSAs). These activities and calls for proposals under this heading were The FP6 provided three major routes for International complementary to the opening to third countries of the scientific co-operation: Priority Thematic Areas of Research. 1. The opening of “Focusing and Integrating Community Research” to third country organisations with The present document is a catalogue of all specific targeted substantial funding, research projects (STREPs) and coordination actions 2. Specific measures in support of international co- projects (CAs) supported under the specific programme operation (INCO), “International Cooperation - Integrating and Strengthening 3. International activities under the heading of Human the European Research Area” of the 6th Framework Resources in the specific programme for research, programme. Each project is identified by its objectives, its technological development and demonstration activity area and the expected results and includes the list “Structuring the European Research Area”. of all participating organisations and contact persons. I am confident that this catalogue will help the dissemination Specific measures in support of international co-operation of information concerning the work undertaken in the FP6 (INCO) INCO programme to the scientific community worldwide. These measures targeted the following groups of third countries: Developing countries, Mediterranean partner Mary Minch countries, Western Balkan countries, and Russia and the NIS. Director Internation Cooperation 1 ‘Towards a European Research Area’ COM (2000) 6 2 Making a reality of the European Research Area: Guidelines for EU research activities (2002-2006)’ COM (2000) 612 final 3 COM (2001) 346 final FOREWORD DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Food SeCUrITY Developing Countries Contract number: 003670 rP/PPr MArKVAC Development of marker vaccines, companion diagnostic tests and improvement of epidemiological knowledge to facilitate control of rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants viruses Coordinator: Dr Geneviève Libeau, Period: 01/01/2005 to 31/12/2008 Centre de coopération internationale en recherche Budget from EC: EUR 1 500 000 agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD) ConTexT And objectiveS • Accompanying tests allowing the detection of post- The project is designed to present an integrated approach infection antibodies, as well as antibodies to the positive to the control and eradication of Rinderpest (RP) and peste and negative markers, will be developed. Their validation des petits ruminants (PPR), two economically important will provide information on their performances in term diseases of ruminants. It will address one of the key factors of epidemiological usefulness. hampering effective control policies involving vaccination, • Data from PPR outbreaks and surveys will be collated namely the lack of marker vaccines and companion from existing systems and data sources to generate diagnostic tests for these viruses. It will also contribute to statistical risk models. A study of the transmission the strengthening and further development of surveillance dynamic of PPR will generate a mathematical model systems with respect to early reaction capabilities in regions predicting the impact of vaccination on the disease that are at risk from the diseases. Therefore the main pattern. objectives of the project are specified as follows: • To develop marker vaccines to prevent RP and PPR exPected reSUlts And outcoMeS infections and examine safety issues relating to This project will provide marker vaccines capable of currently used vaccines and the marker vaccines derived preventing RP and PPR infections and also companion tests from them. to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. • To develop marker vaccine companion diagnostic This differentiation is of major importance for eradication tests to differentiate between infected and vaccinated programmes because it would allow more precise targeting animals and validate the existing RP and PPR assays. of the vaccination while serosurveillance of the disease could This will provide the parameters needed when decisions be maintained through the use of companion diagnostic have to be made on vaccine use for specific purposes. tests. This would allow for a quicker lifting of control • To use improved epidemiological information systems measures. The project should provide, through reverse for a better analysis of the current situation of RP genetics technology, a better understanding of the genetic and PPR and for predicting the impact of vaccination determinants of the immunosuppressive effects associated strategies. with the current vaccines and consequently of the marker vaccines derived from them. An improved formulation for ActivitieS stable storage of vaccines at higher temperatures will be The main activities of the project are summarised as developed to reduce the stringent requirements for cold follows: chain. This will greatly benefit vaccine delivery to farmers • The reverse genetics strategy will be used to generate living in difficult field conditions. A clearer understanding marker vaccines via genome cDNAs derived from the of Morbillivirus infection cycles and the dynamics of the classical attenuated vaccine strains of RP and PPR. disease will generate models that will support decisions The overall aim is to produce double-marker vaccines for vaccination policies. This proposal will boost the health by deletion (negative marker) and addition (positive status of cattle and small ruminants in Africa, allowing marker). higher productivity and an increase in the commercial value • The PPR virus will be used as a model to analyse the of livestock for trade purposes. role of the N protein and its fragments in the vaccine induced immunosuppression. The functionality of the deleted protein will be studied using minigenome rescue technology. • Formulation of an inexpensive and robust vaccine easy to administer to animals in areas lacking a cold chain will be developed. Food Security rP/PPr MArKVAC coordinator Prof. Dirk Pfeiffer Dr Geneviève Libeau University of London Centre de coopération internationale en Royal Veterinary College recherche agronomique pour le développement Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (CIRAD) Hawkshead Lane Département élevage et médecine vétérinaire North Mymms, Hatfield,