About PANDA
Development of a permanent network of experts on infectious diseases of aquaculture species for providing scientific advice on EU policy (PANDA).
Why do we need PANDA?
Infectious diseases in European aquaculture cause direct losses and restrict trade. Although information and advice on disease diagnosis and control is available to the European Commission on an EU- wide basis through the networks of Community and National Reference Laboratories, there is considerable scope for a more holistic approach. Untapped expertise in aquatic animal diseases exists in a large number of institutes, laboratories, universities, private companies and other organisations. In order for Commission decisions on policies, legislation and future research priorities to be based on the best current scientific understanding of aquatic animal diseases and their control, a mechanism for drawing from these resources is required.
The PANDA project aims to establish a permanent network of aquatic animal health specialists, including research scientists and diagnosticians, to provide them with a forum for the debate of issues concerning diseases in European aquaculture, and to communicate the results of these discussions to the European Commission with provision of advice.
How does the network operate?
A consortium of eight participating Institutes are leading the project. Management and guidance of the work are the responsibility of the project co-ordinator and a steering group of two further participants. The remaining five participants lead the scientific work packages addressing specific current European issues. Experts from a wide range of backgrounds are invited to join the network and contribute to the work packages. A project web site has been set up to facilitate the recruitment of experts to the network, to provide a convenient forum for debate, and for the dissemination of information. Workshops specific to individual work packages will also be held.
In addition to the specific issues which will be addressed by the work packages over the course of the first 3 years, the establishment of a permanent advisory network is fundamental to the project. This network will continue to expand and provide advice to the European Commission after the objectives of the scientific work packages are achieved.
Who should get involved?
All researchers and practitioners in aquatic animal health are encouraged to join the PANDA network and are invited to register themselves in the experts database, whether to play a key role and participate in the workshops, to join in the online discussions, search for specific expertise, seek information, advice or materials from other members, or to simply to keep abreast of progress and the latest 'hot issues' in aquatic animal health.
Why get involved?
Benefits of membership include:
- providing input to scientific advice which will influence Commission decisions on policy and research in aquatic animal health.
- searching the database of experts to find and make contact with other experts in your field.
- requesting information, advice or materials via the electronic discussion forums.
- access to information and publications produced by the network.
- keeping abreast of the latest 'hot issues' in aquatic animal health.
Registration on database of experts
All experts, institutes and laboratories working in the field of aquatic animal health are encouraged to become members of the network and to submit details of their areas of expertise and activity for entry into a database to facilitate networking and searches for experts. The first wave of experts registration on the database will be members of the European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) but following this, registration will be open to other individuals and organisations actively involved in the field of aquatic animal health in Europe and elsewhere.
To register click here and complete the registration form to have your details added to the database of experts, and to allow access to the members-only areas of the website with information on progress on the scientific work packages and the opportunity to give your views.
The scientific Work Packages (WP2 - WP5)
WP2 Risk analysis of exotic, emerging and re-emerging disease hazards
The most significant exotic, emerging and re-emerging disease hazards for
European aquatic animals will be identified. Existing risk analyses on the
identified disease hazards in third countries and information from the
epidemiology work package will be considered, and diseases requiring further
assessment will be identified. Optimal strategies for prevention, vigilance and
contingency planning will be developed.
WP3 Epidemiology database, disease surveillance and containment
A database will be developed of epidemiological characteristics of the major
aquatic animal health disease hazards for the EU, with emphasis on information
needed for risk assessment and for designing schemes for surveillance.
Recommendations for prevention, vigilance and contingency plans for the main
disease hazards identified by the risk analysis work package will be provided.
This information will then be used to develop surveillance and containment
schemes.
WP4 Diagnostic methods standardisation and validation.
An assessment of the current best methods for rapid and accurate detection of
the main disease hazards, requirements for improvements and their eventual
standardisation and validation, will be undertaken. Recommendations for how to
achieve harmonised implementation of the best methods throughout Europe will be
produced. Options for policy/legislation with regards to harmonised application
of current best practices for rapid diagnosis of the identified diseases will
be developed.
WP5 Environmentally safe stategies for disease control
The sub-network on alternative disease prevention strategies will report on
best available control and containment methods and provide an assessment of
their known or likely impact on the environment. Particular consideration will
be given to practical aspects of implementing these strategies across the EU,
and gaps in knowledge will be highlighted. Recommendations for guidelines and
policy/legislation options with regards to application of new methods for the
control of diseases will be developed.
WP6 Training needs and opportunities
A survey of training opportunities for aquatic animal disease research and
diagnosis will be conducted, and the findings will be incorporated on a
database on the website. Training deficits will be identified, with particular
consideration to the skill / knowledge gaps identified by other work packages,
and recommendations for addressing these needs will be made.
Table 1. The PANDA consortium
Partner |
Representative |
Function /Work Package |
Barry Hill |
Project co-ordinator |
|
Ellen Ariel |
Steering group member |
|
Isabelle Arzul |
Steering group member |
|
Chris Rodgers |
Risk analysis |
|
Edgar Brun |
Epidemiology |
|
Olga Haenen |
Diagnostic methods |
|
Panos Christofilogiannis |
Environmentally safe disease control |
|
Maura Hiney |
Training needs and opportunities |
