ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Agenda: - Welcome and short Tour de table - Zsuzsanna Koenig (EC): JP concept in general - Anna Lönnroth (EC): activities of DG Research related to the JPI on AMR - Anna Vallstedt Haeger (Swedish Research Council): Presentation JPI on Antimicrobial Resistance - Marion Karrasch (FZJ): Presentation ERA-NET - Discussion M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics 1. Introduction and ERA-NET project data 2. Workplan and selected activities 3. Future plans M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics The ERA-NET PathoGenoMics: . “Genome sequencing and functional genomics of human- pathogenic microorganisms” . funded by the European Commission FP 6 . Runtime: 2004 – 2009 -> extended to 31.08.2012 . Budget: 3 Mio Euro M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics 13 ERA-NET PARTNERS = Funding Organisations from 9 countries + 7 affiliated partners (FR, LV, UK, SE, NO, MT, LI) from 7 countries Finland Academy of Finland AKA France Germany Agence Nat. Federal Min. Austria de Recherche of Education Öster.-Wissen- ANR and Research Schafts Fonds BMBF FWF Hungary Institut Pasteur Hung. Academy of Research Fed. Min. for IP Science / Hung. Center Education and Juelich Research HAS FZJ BMWF Scientif. Res. Fund Portugal OTKA Port. National Spain Slovenia Science Min. of Min. of Higher Foundation Educ. and Educ., Science Israel FCT Science and Techn. Min.of Health MICINN MHEST CSO-MOH M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Boards and decisions Network Steering Committee NSC: - Representatives of the funding organisations - Decisions: 1 vote per organisation Affiliated Partners European External Advisory Board Coordinator: Commission Joint Secretariat EAB Karrasch Koenig Executing Board EB: All WP leaders Implementation of the work plan M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Activities related to PathoGenoMics: ERASysBio and ERASysBio Plus: “Towards a European Research Area for Systems Biology” “Systems Biology of Microorganisms 2 - SysMO2” “Coordination of European Research on Emerging and major Infectious Diseases of Livestock” The Network of Excellence EuroPathoGenomics (EPG): 38 partners based in 13 different countries Coordinator: University of Wuerzburg, Germany M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics 1. Introduction and ERA-NET project data 2. Workplan and selected activities 3. Future plans M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics ERA-NET Workplan 4 Activity Steps: 4 –transnational research activities 3 – Implementation of joint activities 2 – Strategic activities 1 – Systematic Exchange of information & best practices M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics WP 3 Strategic and analytic activities: Strategic Research Agenda > collaboration with the NoE EuroPathoGenomics M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics WP 4 Economic exploitation and job creation: Innovation Strategy Paper Strategy paper: ERA- NET Pathogenomics Pathogenomics, Innovation and Public health Executive summary The field of anti-infective drugs is facing a crisis due to three major factors: (a) pathogens are constantly developing resistance to existing drugs (especially at the hospital setting); (b) the development of new antibacterial agents is nearing a standstill (new antibacterial agents constitute merely 6 of 506 drugs disclosed in the developmental programs of the largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the U.S.); (c) a dearth of reliable diagnostic and monitoring tools for infectious disease complicates treatment and diminishes its efficiency. Despite the ever growing need for new antimicrobial agents, a number of factors make their development economically unattractive. First, health authorities agree on the need to limit the use of broad spectrum antimicrobials in order to minimize the selective pressure driving resistance. Second, the products are almost certainly short-lived, since resistance to the product is likely to rise with time. Third, aging of the Western population has shifted drug discovery efforts towards agents that treat chronic medical conditions. Finally, newly developed agents face a strong competition, due to the large number of antimicrobials already approved. M. Karrasch…… 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics WP 6 Human resources development and mobility PathoGenoMics PhD Award: Aim: to recognize up to three PhD Award Winners 2009, Gothenburg outstanding PhD theses in the field of genome research on human-pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria + fungi) issued yearly for theses finished in the previous year M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics WP 9 Science and society issues - > Raise publics awareness to research in PathoGenoMics by: • An interactive teaching aid for students and the general public. • Expalanatory Brochures for the general public. • A grant scheme for "science to society" initiatives. • Numerous press releases and articles. • Newsletter to the scientific community. Our website: www. pathogenomics-era.net M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics WP 7 Management concept and tools WP 8 Implementing transnational activities Our main activity: Funding of Research projects . 1st transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2005/2006 . 2nd transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2007/2008 . 3rd transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2009/2010 M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics . 1st transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2005/2006: 44 proposals -> 12 funded projects (2007-2010) including 84 funded research groups Total funding volume: 16.6 Mio Kick-off Meeting 2007, Cologne M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics . 2nd transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2007/2008: 50 pre-proposals, 22 full proposals -> 13 funded projects (2009-2012) including 77 funded research groups Total funding volume: Kick-off Meeting 2nd Joint Call 16.3 Mio € Status Seminar 1st Joint Call May 2009, Villa Vigoni M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics . 3rd transnational call on PathoGenoMics in 2009/2010: 50 pre-proposals 25 full proposals Full proposal evaluation session on the 22nd September 2010: - XX projects suggested for funding expected funding volume: approx. 10 Mio € M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Funded projects of the 1st + 2nd call: No. of funded topic projects Prevention / Vaccines / Genome variability 9 Functional genomics, target identification - 7 > (bacterial Antiifectives) Diagnostics 3 Fungal projects 6 total 25 M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Funded projects: • Industrial participation: not required • most projects are more basic-science projects • few industrial partners, few projects with direct impact (product develoment, e.g. vaccine, diagnostic tool) • “(bacterial) antiifectives” projects: new targets for potential drugs, almost nothing beyond that stage M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics 1. Introduction and ERA-NET project data 2. Workplan and selected activities 3. Future plans M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Topic description: “Integrated Infection Biology” -> “ERA-INFECT” -> involve all major funding organisations of the field in Europe (include all “major players” like Sweden, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Czech Republic…) -> include all microorganisms causing infectious diseases in humans* (bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa) *(animals are covered by ERA-NET EMIDA) -> integrates all state-of-the-art technologies (e.g. –omics/post-genomics, systems biology, synthetic biology etc.) -> focus on basic, genome/post-genome based research related to infection biology M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Potential timetable for a new “ERA-INFECT”: 2009: first discussions among the ERA-NET partners and with EC 2010: topic suggestion via Programme Committee 2011: potential Call in the specific work programme 2012 09/2012: potential start of the new ERA-NET M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics JPI AMR Is there an overlap with the aims / envisaged funding of the JPI AMR? M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics JPI AMR: research questions being addressed - Covered by ERA-NET projects? 1. Biology and dynamics of resistance: • Evolution and transmission • Typing of bacterial strains ( ) • Modelling and risk assessment • Novel targets ( ) 2. Epidemiology and disease burden • Global epidemiology • Disease burden 3. Prevention of resistance and innovation of treatment options • Rapid diagnostics • Novel lead molecules ( ) • Treatment concepts M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Impact and added-value for a new ERA-NET: • provide the scientific basis for solving major health problems related to infectious diseases, e.g. of antimicrobial resistance • work complementary to the Joint Programming initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPI AMR) • work complementary to European Commission work programme on health • Collaborate with existing research initiatives, e.g. ERA-NET EMIDA, SysMO… M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Impact and added-value for a new ERA-NET: • provide the scientific basisConclusion for solving: major health problems related to infectious diseases, e.g. of antimicrobial resistance • work complementary. No competition to the, butJoint taking Programmingadvantage initiativeof on the complementary scopes and approaches Antimicrobial Resistance (JPI AMR) • work complementary. „The microbial to Europeanchallenge Commission“ is big work programme on health-> the more we do the better! • Collaborate with existing research initiatives, e.g. ERA-NET EMIDA, SysMO… M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Thanks you for your attention! M. Karrasch 23.10.09 ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Why is PathoGenoMics so important?