EU funding awarded for infectious diseases project
Using new genome technology, the aim of the project is to reduce the impact infectious disease outbreaks have, in terms of time, resources and cost.
The funding is to be split among 28 European partners, including the Technical University of Denmark. It noted that, as well as the impact of outbreaks on health services and the production of livestock, they also reduce consumer confidence in food and negatively impact trade and food security.
The new five-year project, COMPARE, will look to develop a global platform to identify disease-causing microorganisms, which cause, or have the potential to cause, disease outbreaks around the world, as quickly as possible.
Whole genome sequencing will be used, whereby a microorganism’s entire DNA profile can be mapped out at one time.
Frank Møller Aarestrup from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, said: "The platform we are going to create in this project will make it possible in real time to exchange and interpret information about disease-causing microorganisms from around the world and to compare this with other relevant information such as clinical and epidemiological data.
"The aim is that the platform can be used to harmonise the way scientists, authorities, doctors and organisations around the world collect samples, generate genome sequencing data and carry out risk assessments. This new approach to disease surveillance will be able to revolutionise the way we combat diseases globally."
COMPARE is a collaboration between some of the organisations that are behind the Global Microbial Identifier project, as well as some of Europe’s leading institutions in the field of emerging epidemics and foodborne outbreaks.
