Med-Vet-Net, an FP6 Network of Excellence, draws the final curtain

• New tests for earlier and more accurate detection of Salmonella, Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), Q-fever, pig trichinellosis and food-borne virus diseases
• A real-time surveillance network of food-borne infections in Europe (PulseNet Europe)
• An online atlas comprising a series of maps showing the spread and incidence of the 10 most important types of Salmonella in Europe (‘Salmonella Atlas’)
• A new serological test that measures antibodies in blood serum as an indicator of past infection, offering a more accurate picture of disease incidence
• The first ever food-based detections in Europe of particular genes associated with resistance to beta-lactam-, aminoglycoside- and flouroquinolone antibiotics
• Identification of infection rates in different countries of food-borne disease in humans
• New methods of assessing risks to consumers and the impact of control measures, and
• Identification of the burden of infection of food-borne disease — the costs and impact to the community.

Staying together – the Med-Vet-Net Association
Med-Vet-Net’s most enduring legacy however, will be its continuing existence.

Launched in early October, the newly formed and self-funded Med-Vet-Net Association, comprising all 14 of the Network’s scientific partners, will build on the success of its predecessor, strengthening the existing partnerships and forging new collaborations both within Europe and around the world.

It is anticipated that the Association will continue to support ECDC and EFSA in their activities, and also develop new areas of collaboration including support in providing the scientific evidence for risk assessors, risk managers and policymakers. Like Med-Vet-Net, the new Association will also actively communicate and disseminate its research results and achievements through publications, scientific meetings, a website, news bulletins and networking.

At the helm of the Med-Vet-Net Association is newly elected President, Dr Valérie Baduel of the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) with the VLA’s Dr Roberto La Ragione as Vice-President. The Project Management team comprises Project Manager and Association Secretary, John Threlfall of the Health Protection Agency, and Treasurer Arnaud Callegari, also from AFSSA.

Joining up
The Association has kicked off offering three levels of membership: Full members, who at present are the existing Med‑Vet-Net partner institutes; Associated members, comprising small to medium‑sized research groups in the field of zoonoses; and Acceded members, who will for the most part be industrial organizations and companies.

The Association’s priority will be to bring new research groups under its wing to ensure the fight against zoonoses in Europe maintains the collaborative momentum generated by Med-Vet-Net.

Dr Baduel, Association President, said continuing Med-Vet-Net’s success was the only way to ensure Europe stays in the fittest possible shape to tackle the scourge of zoonotic diseases.

“The new horizons are new diseases, which is why it is essential we maintain the momentum of Med-Vet-Net and continue to develop and remain a major focus for European activities targeting the prevention and control of zoonoses.”

About Med-Vet-Net
Med-Vet-Net was initiated in September 2004 and funded for five years by the European Union (EU) 6th Framework Programme within the ‘Quality and Safety of Food’ Priority Area. The Network concludes on 31 October 2009. Med-Vet-Net brought together many of Europe’s most prominent research groups working on the detection and control of zoonoses. By adopting multi-disciplinary and multi-national approaches, Med-Vet-Net enabled knowledge throughout the food chain to be shared across regional, national and international borders.

For more information about the new Med-Vet-Net Association, or to download a copy of Med-Vet-Net’s showcase report, Building a European Community to Combat Zoonoses, please visit www.medvetnet.org.