Any comments or questions regarding this newsletter?
kindly e-mail them to medilabsecure@pasteur.fr
NETWORKING
MediLabSecure Kick-Off Meeting
The Kick-Off Meeting of the new phase of the MediLabSecure project, which was held on July 2nd-3rd 2019 at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, was the opportunity to officially launch the new phase of the MediLabSecure project with a presentation of its objectives and activities.
Gathering 110 participants from more than 25 countries (representatives from participating countries, partners, stakeholders and funder), this 2-day event successfully initiated the integration of the new members from Sahel. It also allowed to introduce the 2 new components with the inclusion of the Veterinary Services in the network of Public Health officials, and the integration of environmental and ecological features in the development of emerging infections' risk assessment and early warning tools.
The Medical Entomology working group of the MediLabSecure project was present at the 9th International Conference of the European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA) which took place at La Rochelle, France from 11 to 14 March, 2019.
This meeting was the occasion for MediLabSecure to take part in the discussion about the harmonization of control strategies in European countries as well as new standards for techniques beyond the borders of classical mosquito control methods in order to foster the exchange of knowledge among research institutions, the mosquito control industry and policy makers. One oral presentation and two posters on entomological surveillance within the MediLabSecure network were presented on this occasion.
One Health European Joint Programme (OHEJP) Conference
7th International Meeting of the EU CBRN National Focal Points
Within the framework of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) initiative, The 7th international meeting of the national focal points was held in La Hulpe in Belgium from June 12th to 14th.
MediLabSecure, which is funded by the European Union and conducted under the umbrella of the EU CBRN CoE initiative, contributes to mitigate biological risk related to emerging vector-borne viruses by strengthening and harmonizing preparadness and response capacities in the Mediterranean, Black Sea & Sahel regions.
In line with this objective, the project took part in the meeting in order to foster interactions and collaborations with the representatives of the EU CBRN CoE initiative to better contribute to stability and peace in the EU neighbouring countries by supporting health security against common health threats and bio-safety-related risks at national and regional levels.
LEARNING & ADVOCACY TOOLS
MediLabSecure videos in motion design
Videos explaining the different sectors of the MediLabSecure project are being developed with all the working groups.
"What is the role of animal virologists in the surveillance of vector-borne diseases?", "How are viral diseases diagnosed?", "Are we able to control the vector?", "Why is a One Health approach important?" - These educational videos highlight in 3 minutes the fundamental role of these disciplines in the surveillance of vector-borne diseases.
These videos, conceived by INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria), IRD (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Developmentt) and Institut Pasteur, present the key role of Human virology, Animal virology and Medical entomology in the fight against vector-borne diseases.
Do not hesitate to share them within the network and beyond (social media, etc.) to promote the project and the multisectorial approach!
Stay tuned, a new video will be released soon during summer!
A toolkit containing mosquito factsheets developed by the medical entomology working group was handed to every participants from technical working groups during the MediLabSecure Kick-Off Meeting in last July 2nd-3rd. This educational and practical toolkit supports field work by providing an easy access to the characteristics of 10 different mosquito species (short description, distribution, transmission, vector surveillance, etc.).
Do not forget to use the MosKeyTool, an identification tool intended to help people (entomologists or not), to identify the species of a mosquito specimen.
To date, this novel interactive key developed by the medical entomology working group includes 132 mosquito species in 70 countries (Euro-Mediterranean, Black Sea and Western Palaearctic Regions) and is currently being udpated with the inclusion of the Sahel region within its geographic coverage.
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Two new publications have been released within the MediLabSecure network!
The relevant results and lessons learned provided by the studies and activities implemented in four years of the MediLabSecure Project (2014-2017) have been reported and discussed in this strategic document, including recommendations for future actions.
This strategic document has been recognized by the public health community as an important tool to facilitate the assessment of integrated surveillance systems and to enhance the operationalization of One Health strategies in national health policies and regional contexts.
Workshop "Introduction on mapping and modelling" /
Call for selection
A workshop "Introduction on mapping and modelling" will be held at the Institut Pasteur of Algeria from 13th to 17th October, 2019. It is jointly organised by the Medical Entomology working group and the Institut Pasteur of Algeria.
The purpose of this training is to provide fundamental concepts of Geographic Information Systems and species distribution modelling, with "hands on" experiences.
This five-day course will be followed by a distance-learning course provided by Avia-GIS.
This basic level course is for anyone who wants to develop their knowledge about mapping and modelling. You do not have to have any previous experience - just your good willing for commitment!
It is open for all the labs involved in the MediLabSecure project. The number of available places is limited to 15 people.
Priority will be given to applicants who are ready to be involved for the whole duration of the MediLabSecure project on this topic.
All expenses related to this course will be supported by the MediLabSecure project and Institut Pasteur of Algeria.
The first workshop of the MediLabSecure second phase for the human virology working-group will be organized on next October 7th-11th 2019 at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
This workshop will focus on data analysis for Next Generation Sequencing technology for diagnostics purposes.
Registration are now closed, participants have already been selected and we would like towarmly thank all MediLabSecure members who applied for attending this workshop!
The coordinators of the human virology working group have been kindly invited by the Institut Pasteur of Algeria from September 17-19th to visit the laboratory of arbovirus and emerging virus. This 2-day visit will be the oppotunity to identify the different scientific collaboration possibilities and toprovide biosafety counseling.
The first ICSSD NRC-Grenoble INP International Conference on Science and Sustainable Development will be held in the National Research Center in Cairo, Egypt on September 16th-19th.
This 3-day conference will focus on the latest scientific and technical advances in science under the theme: "There can never be sustainable development without science", aiming to explore the potential of science in designing sustainable solutions for the future generations.
In addition to the MediLabSecure newsletter, specific newsletters for the human virology and medical entomology working groups activities are also regularly released, and can be accessed on this page of the MediLabSecure website
MediLabSecure is a project funded by the European Union and coordinated by the Institut Pasteur.
The MediLabSecure Project is funded by the European Commission and the DG for International Cooperation and Development under the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace, linked to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence initiative – EU CBRN CoE
ON OUR RADAR 
