On the occasion of the BMBF's announcement on zoonoses research at the beginning of 2016, a large number of workshops were held in 2016 under the umbrella of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses together with the Public Health Service (ÖGD) (see event reports on our website). These events dealt with various topics of zoonoses research and were explicitly designed to facilitate the exchange between scientists at universities and non-university institutions and representatives of the ÖGD.
The events were held at various locations in Germany. The funding of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses included financial support, programme design and organisational input. The selected topics of the workshops had a strategic benefit for zoonoses research in Germany as well as an added value for staff members of the ÖGD. Moderated discussion rounds at each event promoted the exchange between ÖGD and research.
The concept of the workshops met with great approval by the speakers and participants. The positive feedback and the high number of registrations at the events confirm that the Zoonoses Platform will continue to promote the format in the future.
At a strategy meeting in spring 2016, the following topics were identified as key issues and special challenges for the future, with further topics conceivable:
- Campylobacter infections as a One Health challenge
- Mycobacteria of the tuberculosis complex in human and veterinary medicine
- Highly pathogenic bacterial zoonotic agents (several pathogens) - especially the problem of
Diagnostics and differential diagnostics
- Toxoplasma gondii - Importance of zoonotic transmission routes
- Influenza - joint efforts in veterinary and human medical research and
Application
- Food-associated infections and intoxications by spore formers (pathogen group)
- Hepatitis E virus: prevalence, pathogenesis, prevention options
- Leptospirosis and hantavirus diseases: Rodents and humans