Research and projects

Here below some information about research activities and collaboration projects of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease.

Main research areas and activities

The main research areas are:

  • development of vaccination strategy, evaluation of vaccine efficacy and identification of vaccine candidates against epidemic strains;
  • development and validation of innovative diagnostic assay for AI and ND;
  • evaluation of evolutionary dynamics of AI and ND viruses during epidemics;
  • pathogenesis studies of AI and ND viruses in birds and mammals.

Additionally, the AI/ND EURL collaborates with international institutions (e.g. UN-FAO, IAEA, EU, EFSA, WHO) for the selection of vaccine candidates, the definition of virus genotype nomenclature and for organizing training activities.

Recent research projects

In the last years the AI/ND EURL has been and/or still is involved in the following research projects:

  • CRISPR-Cas Project – Funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (RC IZSVe 2/22) – CRISPR-Cas: a new frontier for the diagnosis of viral zoonoses (CRISPR-ZOO)
  • DELTA FLU under H2020-EU.3.2.1.1 – Increasing production efficiency and coping with climate change, while ensuring sustainability and resilience – Dynamics of avian influenza in a changing world | Website >
  • E–Grant Agreement Project 101132860 – EcoSurv – Establishment of a surveillance system on selected (re)emergent and at-risk of introduction zoonoses based on a ecologic approach
  • ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) – Agreement in the framework of the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) to carry out on site surveillance activities for H5 HPAI viruses in birds and marine mammals sampled in Antarctica.
  • ERA/NET ICRAD – Preventing zoonoses by screening Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) in wildlife birds and poultry using a novel rapid point of care systemx1 POC4AIV | Website >
  • EU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme – Grant agreement No 101084171. WP HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-03 – KAPPA-FLU – Understanding the connectivity and dynamics of avian influenza | Website >
  • FP7-FLUPIG – Pathogenesis and transmission of influenza in pigs | Website >
  • ICRAD FLU-SWITCH – Identification of factors driving the emergence and spread of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential | Website >
  • INF-ACT Project – A research program which addresses pressing unmet needs of human emerging infectious diseases in both fundamental as well as translational aspects, taking into consideration human health in a wider context, including domestic and wild animals as potential disease reservoirs and environmental factors enhancing the possibility for spillover (One Health approach) | Website >
  • LIDISKI Project – contract FOOD/2019/410-957 – Improving livestock disease surveillance and control in Nigeria | Website >
  • Pandemic Information to support rapid Response (PAIR) Project | Website >
  • ParNewVac – Development of improved vaccines with DIVA and therapeutic properties against two animal paramyxoviruses: peste des petits ruminants and Newcastle disease
  • RC IZSVe 05/23 – Innovative approaches to surveillance for avian influenza in wild, domestic and interface environments
  • SENTINEL Wild Birds (EUBA-EFSA-2023-BIOHAW-06) – Establishing capacities for active surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in Europe | Website >
  • VIVACE – Management of avian influenza in a vaccination context – an EU-financed Marie Slodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctorate Network focused on the importance, opportunities and challenges linked to the implementation of poultry vaccination in Europe against avian influenza viruses (AIVs) | Website >