EU Commission to invest Euro 9m in research on SARS prevention
The EU Commission is to make available at least Euro 9m to fund new research into ways of tackling the SARS virus, including surveillance and control, clinical manifestations including disease transmission, infection control procedures, interventions and vaccines, and risk assessment.
The EU Commission is to make available at least Euro 9m to fund new research into ways of tackling the SARS virus, including surveillance and control, clinical manifestations including disease transmission, infection control procedures, interventions and vaccines, and risk assessment.
According to European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, much knowledge is still lacking concerning the transmission, reservoirs, stability and origin of the virus.
Busquin said: 'Within the Sixth EU Research Framework Programme (FP6 2003-2006) we are devoting Euro 1.115bn to combating major diseases. We are ready to face challenging new epidemics that respect no borders. The first Euro 9m devoted to SARS research will serve as a catalyst at European and international level, to foster co-operation and reach a true critical mass in the fight against the syndrome.
'I hope that scientists across Europe and beyond will come forward with a range of robust proposals, helping to prevent the alarming and often tragic situation that we witnessed across the world in the last few months.'
The research envisaged under this call could also be of value in tackling new or emerging disease situations. Involvement in these projects by partners from affected areas, such as the People's Republic of China, will be important, in particular concerning work related to longer term follow up of recovered SARS cases and to the issue of environmental reservoirs and origin, he added.
Although the epidemic is is now under control, according to the latest announcement by the WHO, there are still concerns about a possible resurgence of SARS. The deadline for proposals is 30 September 2003.