Approved Horizon Europe Innovation Action project PAIR 

 Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR” takes part in Horizon Europe programme project “Pandemic preparedness and response: In vitro diagnostic devices to tackle cross-border health threats” (acronym PAIR), No. 101133191 which has been launched since 1st January, 2024. Project lead partner is Technical University of Denmark (DTU).     

It is clear that critical pandemic decisions need to link rapid, reliable testing with comprehensive modelling of potential impacts. Currently, Europe lacks a comprehensive one 

1) a diagnostic point of care instrument (PANPOC) for rapid detection of respiratory RNA viruses with pandemic potential: Influenza A (human, avian and swine), influenza B and SARS-CoV-2 (the Target Viruses). PANPOC will be validated by testing animal, environmental and clinical samples (one health approach). 

2) a prognostic AI-based platform (PANRISK) to predict the spread of the Target Viruses and contribute to public health by giving an alarm once an outbreak exceeds a given threshold. The platform is based on a pathogen genomic drifting model to predict the risk of animal pathogens drifting to become human pathogens and an epidemiological model to predict geographical and temporal outbreaks of zoonoses. The portable PANPOC equipment will be validated and demonstrated at end-users: hospitals, General practitioners, competent veterinary authorities, health authorities, border controls, airports, refugee camps, etc. The aim of PANRISK is a syndromic surveillance framework for diseases, for targeting directed surveillance in concentrated periods of time and areas. The advantage of the PANRISK model is targeted towards zoonotic diseases, with high precision data that allows high precision in the surveillance for trends. 

The contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) is integral to the project. An SSH partner will focus on social and health inequities in the pandemic preparedness and aims to provide indications for the implementation of the PPP to support the involvement of stakeholders as well as public trust. A policy development partner will align the projects output to the key policy development and implementation processes within the EU. A dissemination and communication partner will ensure efficient communication, dissemination and engagement of the stakeholders. 

 The project starts in 1st January, 2024 and lasts 60 months. 

Estimated Project Cost is €7,730,705.76, EU contributions is €6,993,860.49. Institute BIOR project estimated cost is planned € 242, 958.00 (100% EU contribution).  

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