ecdc.europa.eu Tommi Asikainen, Tubingen, 24 October 2008 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Modelling as a tool for public health, role and structure of European Union wide networks

2 EC funded networks in general FP 6 –Aimed to increase cooperation between borders –Expansion of EU –Inclusion of less resourced countries –Scientific excellence not necessary FP 7 –Scientific excellence important –Added value to include ”new” EU countries –Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Hungary, Czech republic, Bulgaria, Slovak Republic, Poland and Slovenia

3 FP 6 & DG Sanco PROJECTS FP 6YearEC POLYMOD M€ SARSTRANS M€ SarsControl M€ Inftrans M€ EDEN M€ DG SancoYearEC ModelRel M€

4 FP7 projects with modelling parts FluModCont Project on emerging infections

5 Public awareness FP 6 –A lof of information available at the Commission –Not accessible for the public ECDC has access to these –Available in scientific publications FP 7 –DG Research homepage –Increase public awareness Some information will be published from the projects –Want to avoid duplication of research

6 Use of networks Networks represented at meetings –Very rarely –People are not aware of these of the activities of the networks Ways of incorporating networks into public health –Modelling meetings –Pandemic planning assumptions –Surveillance in a pandemic –Networks would probably gain most by being exposed to ”new challenges”, within the objectives of their application. Creation of new networks –NEMO

7 NEMO

8

9 European wide modelers networks 1. Training of new modellers 2. Network of contact persons in each country –Person linked between public health and modellers Should be two separate networks

10 EPIET (European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training) 27 Countries, ECDC and WHO 19 Training sites Supervisors Training activities Language Cross-border investigations International missions 102 Graduates

11 Training of modelers Inclusion into EPIET ? –Access to non modelling courses –Could increase EPIET with a short modelling module –Requested by many EPIET fellows –Grant for two years –International expertise Grant for training abroad ? Short specialised courses ?

12 Training of modelers 1.Identify a real problem to work on 2.Possibility to talk with relevant expertise ”Where does the data come from” Senior modelers 3.Access to data 4.Possibility to communicate the results to relevant bodies

13 Networks of contact persons in each country Strong links with ECDC, EC, WHO activities National contactpoints should keep contacts with modellers in their country Meetings of disease theme specific subjects –Each country could send a modeller specialized in the theme Network could be used for making proposals involving many Member States –”Dream project” from European Commission point of view

14 "I would like to consult Europe – but do not know the number." (Henry Kissinger) MSs, institutions, experts, NGOs in and outside Europe should all know "the number of ECDC":

15 Thank you