EU earmarks new research fund for avian and pandemic flu

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced the allocation of 28.3 million euros (35.5 billion U.S. dollars) for a new fund for research projects in the field of avian and pandemic influenza.

The package of 17 projects, with durations between two to four years, cover human and animal health, and address research needs identified by the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The fund is evenly divided between human and animal health projects, the EU's executive European Commission said.

On human health, the projects cover research on better understanding of how the flu virus works and clinical research on vaccine development.

The projects addressing animal health cover vaccines, better diagnosis and early warning systems, increased knowledge of the bird flu virus, technology transfer to third world countries, and a network for monitoring migratory birds.

Nine of the selected projects include partners from outside the EU, such as Russia, China, Vietnam, Australia, the United States, Canada and Croatia, several of which have been directly affected by recent outbreaks of avian flu.

"It is important that the EU is able to target its research program to meet new needs that arise," said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik.

"The involvement of so many international partners shows that Europe is leading the global fight against avian and pandemic flu, " he said.

Source: Xinhua