Advancing vaccine development for African swine fever
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
A successful proposal will support research and innovation to help policy makers and economic operators reduce the burden of African swine fever (ASF), thus contributing to a safeguarding animal health and the economic resilience of the sustainable livestock industry.
Activities under this topic will contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Improved capacity to develop ASF pilot vaccines and their companion DIVA tests for the possible prevention and/or eradication of the disease in domestic pigs and wild boars;
- Vaccination strategies for both wild boar and domestic pigs, addressing different objectives and needs (e.g. eradication in wild boar; emergency or preventive use in domestic pigs).
- Increased international cooperation on a possible ASF vaccine. Scope :
ASF is a devastating viral disease that has showed its potential for very serious and rapid spread, not only in Europe, but throughout the world. It has a serious socio-economic impact on farming sector and is of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products. While strict control measures including in particular biosecurity, culling of infected pigs, appropriate management of wild-boar populations, have contributed to reduced spread of the disease, concerns are raised on the possibility to eradicate the disease without vaccination in the long-term.
Global research efforts are starting to show some promising results, but further work on the development of effective and safe ASF vaccines is needed, as an additional tool to re-inforce control and eradication strategies currently in place.
All the following elements should be incorporated:
- Address the necessary steps for developing pilot vaccines against ASF for domestic pigs and wild boars;
- Address the necessary steps to develop companion DIVA tests, where feasible.
- Decipher pathogen genetics/genomics and immune response of the host, to develop innovative approaches to African swine fever vaccine development, at least including those virus types circulating in Europe. Study different types of vaccines and modern techniques to develop novel ASF vaccines;
In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged in particular with North America.
The selected project should take into consideration the EU animal health regulatory framework.
Proposals should ensure adequate involvement of stakeholders from the European Medicines Agency, veterinary authorities, farmers and hunters. Involvement of the pharmaceutical industry is highly recommended.
While it is expected that proposals will present innovative approaches to ASF vaccine development, the projects could consider the relevant activities and outputs of past or ongoing EU funded research, such as VACDIVA[1] and DEFEND[2], and of other international projects on ASF vaccine and build on them where appropriate. They should contribute to the relevant objectives of the Star-Idaz International Consortium[3].
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the specific topic of the Work Programme
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual