1. E UR N EG V EC E UROPEAN N ETWORK FOR N EGLECTED V ECTORS AND V ECTOR -B ORNE I NFECTIONS Joint meeting VBORNET – EMCA Elzenveld Conference Centre Antwerp, Belgium, November 28th-29th 2013 TD1303 M IHALCA Andrei Daniel, DVM, PhD University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania Presentation at VBORNET Fourth Annual General meeting and Joint meeeting VBORNET – EMCA Elzenveld Conference Centre Antwerp, Belgium November 27th -29th 2013

2. E UR N EG V EC | E UROPEAN N ETWORK FOR N EGLECTED V ECTORS AND V ECTOR -B ORNE I NFECTIONS Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013 B ACKGROUND 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”

3. E UR N EG V EC | E UROPEAN N ETWORK FOR N EGLECTED V ECTORS AND V ECTOR -B ORNE I NFECTIONS Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013 M AIN 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 Human Health Animal Health Environmental Health

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) – 27 countries COST 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, Libya IPC: Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

9. STSMs Financial 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

10. STSM rules draft Documents required for application 1.Written agreement of the host institution 2.Correctly filled on-line application form 3.CV 4.Full work plan (study/research/training) 5.Motivational letter (guidelines!) 6.Recommendation letters 7.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

11. 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

12. www.eurnegvec.org Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013

13. Still missing countries Austria Cyprus Denmark Iceland Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Sweden Antwerp, Belgium, November 27th-29th 2013 Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Finland France FYR Macedonia Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Israel Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom