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A global alliance for Zika virus control and prevention

Project description

Uniting global forces against the Zika virus

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that raised global concern following a major outbreak in 2015. One of the most concerning aspects of ZIKV is its association with birth defects, particularly small head and brain in infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy. The scope of the EU-funded ZIKAlliance initiative is to understand the impact of ZIKV infection during pregnancy and study the natural history of ZIKV infection in humans. The consortium will undertake a multidisciplinary approach to study cohorts in the Caribbean, Central and South America in countries with different epidemiological profiles. The long-term aim is to build research capacity and enhance preparedness for future epidemic threats.

Objective

"ZIKAlliance is a multidisciplinary project with a global ""One Health"" approach, built: on a multi-centric network of clinical cohorts in the Caribbean, Central & South America; research sites in countries where the virus has been or is currently circulating (Africa, Asia, Polynesia) or at risk for emergence (Reunion Island); a strong network of European and Brazilian clinical & basic research institutions; and multiple interfaces with other scientific and public health programmes. ZIKAlliance will addrees three key objectives relating to (i) impact of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy and short & medium term effects on newborns, (ii) associated natural history of ZIKV infection in humans and their environment in the context of other circulating arboviruses and (iii) building the overall capacity for preparedness research for future epidemic threats in Latin America & the Caribbean. The project will take advantage of large standardised clinical cohorts of pregnant women and febrile patients in regions of Latin America and the Caribbean were the virus is circulating, expanding a preexisting network established by the IDAMS EU project. I will also benefit of a very strong expertise in basic and environmental sciences, with access to both field work and sophisticated technological infrastructures to characterise virus replication and physiopathology mechanisms. To meet its 3 key objectives, the scientific project has been organised in 9 work packages, with WP2/3 dedicated to clinical research (cohorts, clinical biology, epidemiology & modeling), WP3/4 to basic research (virology & antivirals, pathophysiology & animal models), WP5/6 to environmental research (animal reservoirs, vectors & vector control) , WP7/8 to social sciences & communication, and WP9 to management. The broad consortium set-up allow gathering the necessary expertise for an actual interdisciplinary approach, and operating in a range of countries with contrasting ZIKV epidemiological status."

Call for proposal

H2020-SC1-2016-2017

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Sub call

H2020-SC1-2016-RTD-Zika

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE
Net EU contribution
€ 2 285 366,30
Address
RUE DE TOLBIAC 101
75654 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 2 285 366,30

Participants (56)