EJPOH SE0562: SARS-CoV-2 Research Integration and preparedness (COVID19JIP) COVRIN. One Health research integration on SARS-CoV-2 emergence, risk assessment and preparedness - SE0562

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread rapidly, evolving into a full-blown pandemic. This COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented societal and economic impact. Therefore, the OHEJP Project Management Team (PMT) on behalf of its partners has decided that they should join forces to combat COVID-19 and raise preparedness for future coronavirus outbreaks. A main focus of this OHEJP initiative will be to reinforce collaboration and integration of research activities by means of a Joint Integrative Project (JIP) on SARS-CoV-2. This JIP aims to integrate coronavirus research activities of all OHEJP partners. The project will have two main operational objectives: The first will be to identify the drivers for the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2. The second will be to generate data and build models for risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2. Besides a work package on coordination and communication, including activities to connect with stakeholders and avoid overlaps with other projects, the project will have four integrative research work packages. The integrative research activities will include i) research on detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animal species and the environment, ii) research on SARS-CoV-2 molecular and biological characterization, iii) SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and risk assessment, focussed on the animal-human interface, and iv) coronavirus preparedness. Through this work COVRIN will achieve the following strategic goals. 1) Develop common COVID-19 protocols that support OHEJP collaborations, 2) develop a common infrastructure for COVID-19 research, 3) integrate COVRIN deliverables into the work processes of OHEJP partners, 4) reduce overlaps of COVID-19 research within OHEJP, and 5) develop a common OHEJP structure on coronavirus preparedness. The Coronavirus research integration (COVRIN) project is being led Wageningen Bioveterinary Research in the Netherlands and the University of Surrey, along with contributions from 19 other partners already involved within the OHEJP. Within the overall EJP One Health strategic goals, the overall aim of COVRIN will be to generate and share data of integrative research activities on virus-host interactions, virus evolution and drivers for emergence, risk assessment and risk modelling, in order to increase the preparedness for future Coronavirus outbreaks.