Approved European Commission Horizon 2020 project “A safe DIVA vaccine for African Swine Fever control and eradication”

On 21st May 2019, Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and the Environment “BIOR”, has received approval of Horizon 2020 project VACDIVA: A safe DIVA vaccine for African Swine Fever control and eradication, Grant agreement ID: 862874. The project application was made within a consortium together with 20 partners (from EU member states, Russia, Kenya, China) and the coordinator is Complutense University of Madrid (Spain).

The objective of VACDIVA is to solve the ASF problem in Europe and affected countries through innovation efforts. VACDIVA will provide (1) Three safe and effective pilot vaccines for wild boar and domestic pigs ready for registration; (2) validated companion DIVA tests and 3) cost-benefit and effective surveillance and control-vaccination strategies, with field trials in Lithuania and Kenia. Two world leader companies in vaccine production and ASF diagnostic kits will provide production of the new vaccines and DIVA tests. Epidemiological modelling of worldwide scenarios will be offered in a portfolio of services to help animal health authorities control and eradicate the disease. This project will provide policy makers valuable decision support tools to better prevent and control ASF.

VACDIVA counts with the expertise of two world ASF Reference Laboratories (OIE and FAO), the EU reference laboratory (EURL), six EU national Reference Laboratories (of 6 out of the 10 countries currently affected by ASF) and four prestigious ASF research institutions. Participation of Russian, Chinese and African laboratories will provide useful support, increasing acceptance of the vaccines. Active involvement of pig producers, agricultural associations and International agencies like FAO will enlarge the impact of communication, dissemination and training activities.

Project overall budget is € 10 296 522,75 where EU contribution is € 9 168 652,37.

Project starts on 1st October 2019 and end on 30th September 2023.

Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.2.1.1. – Increasing production efficiency and coping with climate change, while ensuring sustainability and resilience

Topic: SFS-12-2019 – A vaccine against African swine fever

Call for proposal: H2020-SFS-2019-1

Funding Scheme: IA – Innovation action

More information here https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/225165/factsheet/fr|