STRENGTHENING THE VECTOR COMMUNITY
The Infravec2 Quality Label
It will be disseminated as a set of standard protocols to generate reproducible experimental infections of vectors. The Label will define a common operating environment to allow cross-facility comparison of experimental data and meta-analyses for arbovirus and Plasmodium falciparum infections.
Defined arthropod containment standards
They will be developed for CL2/CL3 secure insectary facilities, published in a guidance document towards a harmonized European insectary biosafety standard. There is currently no common biosecurity standard for the management of European secure insectaries.
Workshops for development of community technical standards
Workshops were held at Imperial College in 2017 and 2018 to develop tools for mosquito line authentication of Aedes and Anopheles colonies. There is currently no standard to confirm the integrity and identity of mosquito colonies. Workshops will be held on other topics, including the arthropod containment standards, annotation of new vector reference genomes for Anopheles darlingi and Phlebotomus perniciosus [link to Genomes tab], and on natural vector viromes
Training courses
On Secure Insectary Experimental Methods, and on Vector Genomics and Bioinformatics, aimed at early-career scientists and for institutional capacity strengthening.
Stakeholder networking
With public health authorities, government and non-government organizations, academic environments, and funding bodies, to connect policy makers with scientific communities for the promotion of vector science and the public health mission of the community.
Sustainability plan
For an integrated European insect vector research infrastructure, to assure long-term availability of resources promoting cutting-edge research and development for European and global public health.
Technical and scientific capacities
In vector borne disease prevention and outbreak integration with the public health mission of surveillance, prevention, and outbreak control.
Data sharing
Tthrough the creation of a unique database collecting European vector biologists information on skills, technology, capacity building, ongoing projects, etc. aiming to strengthening community networking and collaborations.
Sustainability plan
For an integrated European insect vector research infrastructure, to assure long-term availability of resources promoting cutting-edge research and development for European and global public health.
Commercialisation
Of Infravec2 products and services. Opportunities will be explored among partners and potential customers in veterinary science, along with the agrichemical industry and companies developingment of pest control agents.