The development of sensitive, specific and rapid early detection technologies including penside or hand-held systems to detect and or confirm harmful pathogens present in (1) animals before the onset of disease, (2) animals in the “disease carrier” status or (3) very low numbers in animals or populations of animals to respond to harmful animal disease events, and those of zoonotic nature, in a timely way.
This CRP will involve research and diagnostic laboratory evaluation of hardware and protocols in targeted Member State laboratories in collaboration with private commercial partners. Validation of new tests as well as comparison to conventional tests will be essential. There is also a vital element that commercial and institutional organizations developing tests will act as agreement holders to benefit from validation advantage that the CRP, with its wide range of contract holders from different countries, brings. The Joint FAO/IAEA Programme has maintained the technology transfer of PCR and conventional diagnostic methods (e.g. ELISA) for the past 20 years and there is a cadre of well trained personnel to allow the uptake and development of a new system(s) who might be available to the CRP to develop new methods. This will be accomplished by:
Fourteen Research and Agreement Holder Contracts have now been awarded to member state organizations in China, USA, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Sweden, South Africa, Netherlands, Viet Nam, Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
The first Research Coordination Meeting is being be held in Vienna, March 19-23, 2007. Expert observers from industry and International research organizations are invited as observers. Detailed work plans on the validation of newer technologies to perform and read and report PCR tests will be made..Viet Nam, Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
