Jean-Christophe AUDONNET (MERIAL, SIMV) Bernard CHARLEY (INRA) ETPGAH meeting, Brussels, Dec. 2, 2008

Why?: EU guidelines require the implementation, at the national level, of the guidelines and objectives defined in the ETPGAH Action Plan = « Mirror Groups ». How?: a French initiative, from the Ministry of Agriculture, launched in May 2007 A Steering Committee was nominated and worked on the definition of what could be done in France in this context Series of meetings and teleconferences between May and October 2007 to organize a kick-off meeting to gather and inform all stakeholders (industry, public research organisms, vet schools, government, diagnostic labs…)

Who?: Stakeholders covering the whole range of animal health professionals: Ministry of Agriculture (and Fischeries) Animal Health Industry, united in SIMV French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) National Veterinary Schools (ENV) National Institute of Agronomy Research (INRA) Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) Technical Veterinarians Union (SNGTV) Sanitary Defence Groups (farmers) (FNGDS) Public Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories (ADILVA) EFFAB members, …

Structure of the RFSA Network: A Steering Committee, representing all the members A Secretariat, also involved in the drafting of the Action Plan Different Working Groups (GT) have been set up in Dec 07: GT1 ; for providing solutions to the immediate needs in the field, mainly the availability of orphan drugs, “diagnostics and vaccines” GT2; arthropod-borne diseases: with BTV as a first topic due to current epidemiology. The work of this GT was used to set priorities in the current national research program for BTV-associated projects. GT3; definition of projects to be proposed by RFSA within the context of FP7 projects calls Other working groups will be launched in 2009 and beyond in order to implement the Action Plan

What for?: Objectives to create an active and unique forum, putting together all actors in animal health, by providing a unique network able to connect public research institutions missions, AH industry needs, and “field end-users” (vets, farmers…) needs. to provide a solid basis by the presence of multifocal expertise of the different stakeholders, working on the basis of 3 main principles for all topics: concertation cooperation coordination A specific RFSA Action Plan is in progress, with research needs and proposals, resulting in coordinated research plans (2009). The diseases that will be targeted in the Action Plan are not limited to the ETPGAH list of diseases, and not limited to livestock diseases (France specificities for companion animals and horses) Strong link and coordination with state authorities

RFSA achievements so far: A specific web site (in French) was created and hosted by the SIMV; partly open to the public; fully controlled access for members: A Kick-off meeting (October 27th, 2007)Kick-off meeting to raise awareness about the RFSA initiative to provide a mapping of all members’ respective expertise, to identify research needs and gaps, and suggest a list of research priorities to propose contractual rules between industry and public partners (in the network context) attendance = up to 100 Summary conference available on the web siteSummary conference

RFSA achievements: “orphan drugs” working group GT1: The group has successfully addressed a wide number of topics in 2008: anthrax vaccine (emergency situation in Jura) botulism vaccine tuberculin for ID tests Products for treating bees discussion on autologous vaccines for sheep Overall, very positive output. Having all actors (regulatory authorities, manufacturers, veterinarians and farmers) around the same table has definitely helped to define rapid and pragmatic solutions. This WG will be maintained and aAn annual report will be published.

RFSA achievements: BTV working group GT2: Concerted list of immediate (“operational”) research needs: Epidemiology, diagnostic tools, molecular typing, BTV status in wildlife… Consequences on reproduction performances, on husbandry practices Economical impacts (direct and indirect) Vector biology and control measures Vaccines (safety and efficacy in “minor species”) Government funded research programs (total of 1,5 M€ for Short Term perspectives) Longer-term research: pathogenesis, immunology, etc. to be addressed through the RFSA Action Plan

RFSA achievements: FP7 working group GT3: prepare RFSA coordinated inputs for national participants to FP7 Programme Committee (link with the Action Plan) Links with EMIDA, Discontools Identify groups able to respond to FP7 topics identify RFSA coordinated topic priorities and needs for future calls, within : Enabling research, Main line 2:'Omics technologies', systems biology and other basic sciences in farm animals : focus on immune functions, genomics of pathogens and vectors. Need for basic knowledge on host defence, on pathogens Main line 14 « essential biological functions of farmed animals »: focus on functions for health and welfare

RFSA achievements: FP7 working group GT3 (continued): « Optimized animal health » Main line 1, Animal health and non food-borne zoonoses : focus on arthropod-borne diseases, including Orbiviruses but not only, extended to epidemiology, pathogenesis, biology, ecology and control measures of vector populations. Extension to tick-borne diseases. Specific focus on protozoal infections. Support to Bee health topics. Main line 2, Food borne zoonoses: salmonellosis, STEC Main line 3, Animal welfare: promote links between welfare and diseases, epidemiology of survey of welfare-based diseases, welfare and animal quality products

Plans for the future: Meeting on RFSA initiative for the review of the ongoing research projects on BTV (January 21st, 2009) Communication plan (1Q09) Action plan (1Q09) Define RFSA first list of calls for proposals (1-2Q09) Address ongoing and new topics in the WK GT1 Prepare a coordinated plan for preparing and responding to FP7 calls for proposals