The problem

Since the malicious release of anthrax spores through the US postal system in 2001, public authorities around the world have been making plans to cope with bio-terrorist attacks. Smallpox and anthrax are thought to pose the greatest threats. A proven vaccine for smallpox exists, but there is no safe and reliable inoculation against anthrax and current therapies would be ineffective against multi-drug resistant strains. European countries need to pool their resources to develop an effective response to terrorist attacks employing anthrax and other biological agents.

Overview:

Anthrax-EuroNet will bring together experts in public health, education, research and industry. The project aims to:

• establish a research network that will accelerate the development and production of a vaccine and therapeutic countermeasures against anthrax bioterrorism
• standardise and harmonise screening and testing protocols for vaccines and therapeutic measures
• create a wider network (Euro-InfectNet) to provide Europe with a means of addressing the current and future needs for protecting its citizens against the threats of other high-risk bioterrorism agents and emerging diseases

Contribution to policy development:

• Anthrax-EuroNet’s deliverables will contribute to the development of public health policies and future research priorities through both its networking and coordinated research activities
• It could provide a model for similar research networks devoted to other high-risk infectious agents
• The network could eventually be integrated into the proposed European Centre for Disease Control

Project deliverables

• Kick-off workshop (June 2004) and workshops at the end of each year (January 2005, 2006, 2007)
• Meetings on best practice for anthrax infection studies and immune response evaluation –
  June 2004
• Report on data from validation studies – July 2006
• Presentation of validation data – January 2006

Dissemination

• Anthrax-EuroNet web platform – July 2004
• Full-time public relations officer – ongoing
• Provision of multimedia information packages on bioterrorism and civil protection for specific user groups – ongoing
• Handbook and training on protocols and models for anthrax workers – Edition 1 (July 2005)/ Edition 2 (July 2006)
• Conference on the threat of bioterrorism and European preparedness – January 2007

Technical information

Project acronym: Anthrax-EuroNet
Project’s official full title: Anthrax and Beyond - European research networking activities to develop safe products and policies to protect our citizens from the threat of anthrax attacks and other agents of bioterrorism
Research priority: 2.7. Issues related to civil protection (including biosecurity and protection against risks arising from terrorist attacks), and crisis management
Specific webpage: http://www.anthraxeuronet.org/
Proposal/contract no: 503616
Start date: 01/01/2004
Kick off meeting: May 2004
Completion date: 31/12/2006
European Commission scientific officer: Paul Vossen (Paul.Vossen@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology
Abbreviated name: MPIIB
Address: 21/22 Schumannstrasse, 10117 Berlin
Country: Germany
Tel: +49 30 28460 502
Fax: +49 30 28460 503
Website: http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/

Partners

Name: Health Protection Agency
Abbreviated name: HPA
Country: United Kingdom

Name: University of Hohenheim Institute of Environmental and Animal Hygiene
Abbreviated name: UHOH
Country: Germany

Name: Istituto Veneto di Medicina Molecolare
Abbreviated name: VIMM
Country: Italy 

Name: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Puglia and Basilicata
Abbreviated name: IZSPB
Country: Italy 

Name: Institut Pasteur - Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Toxines
Abbreviated name: IPTPB
Country: France