Global research alliance on animal health

Infectious animal diseases such as avian influenza negatively impact the livestock industry. Furthermore, some infectious animal diseases are also zoonotic, meaning that they can be transmitted, either directly or indirectly, from animals to humans.

The STAR-IDAZ Global Network is optimising research activities on infectious animal diseases and zoonoses for faster delivery of better disease control techniques. The consortium involves over 70 collaborators including stakeholders from industry, research councils, funding bodies and relevant ministries.

Under the global umbrella of STAR-DAZ, regional networks have been established for the Americas, Asia and Australasia, and Africa and the Middle East complementing the existing European regional network operating as the Collaborative Working Group on European Animal Health & Welfare Research (CWG) under the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR). Twelve priority topics covering specific diseases and crosscutting issues such as vaccinology and alternatives to antibiotics were identified for collaborative activities including gap analysis and the formation of research networks.

The project website provides information on research activities related to animal health including reports, a publications database, and a research organisation database which maps research centres, funding organisations, programmes and facilities.

Through information sharing, STAR-IDAZ partners are ensuring that well-documented data sets are available to relevant research networks for secondary analysis. Foresight exercises conducted at a regional and global level led to the development of a global strategic research agenda, thereby optimising future research efforts and resource allocation.

The STAR-IDAZ Global Network, the four regional networks and disease/issue networks established should ensure the sustainability of project goals. The resulting improved communication, coordination and focus of animal disease research should help accelerate improvements in animal and public health at an international level.