Ongoing joint projects:

DEFERM: Decontamination measures after a deliberate or natural release of pathogenic microorganisms

Funding codes 13N15506 to 13N15511

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that pathogens do not stop at national borders and that cross-border, joint action by emergency services is essential to effectively combat pandemics. The aim of the Franco-German DEFERM project is to optimize decontamination processes in order to prevent the rapid spread of biological hazardous substances. The development of suitable operational processes as well as identification and decontamination procedures is intended to ensure the rapid and safe reuse of material and vehicles during operations. 

More information (only available in German)

 

DigiPREW: Mobile Digital Preparedness and Response without Borders

Funding codes 13N15514 and 13N15515

The SORMAS software (Surveillance, Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System) already provides the public health sector with a pandemic response tool that allows health authorities to network in real time. DigiPREW is investigating how the SORMAS system can be used to connect public health agencies across national borders. A laboratory information and management system is being developed to support laboratory work and further improve data exchange.

DigiPREW project outline (PDF, only available in German)

  

PLANT: Bioterrorist threat situations through plant toxins

Funding codes 13N15462 and 13N15463

In Germany and France in 2018, preparations for serious subversive crimes involving plant toxins were uncovered and prevented by law enforcement authorities. These cases were aimed at extracting the highly toxic poison ricin from plant seeds and using it against civilians. Bioterrorism poses a particular challenge for police and public health authorities: Used toxins must be identified and eliminated as quickly as possible, while at the same time evidence must be secured in order to be able to convict the perpetrators in a legally binding manner. The German-French joint project PLANT focuses on the challenges associated with bioterrorist attack scenarios, such as crime scene and evidence management as well as on-site analytics.

PLANT project outline (PDF, only available in German)

   

PREPMEDVET: Emergency strategies against viral pathogens

Funding codes 13N15449 and 13N15450

The December 2019 Covid-19 outbreak in China, with the subsequent global pandemic, is a prime case of the emergence of a new infectious disease and its consequences. In such a situation, the key to rapid response by public health authorities is timely identification of the pathogen. The PREPMEDVET project uses the latest generation of gene sequencing methods, which have the time advantage of being able to search for many different pathogens simultaneously during analysis. This method is established in the laboratory and is to be transferred to a mobile platform.

More information (only available in German)

   

X-BAT: Research and production of a decavalent botulism antitoxin for bioterrorism threat defense

Funding codes 13N15512 und 13N15513

Botulinum neurotoxin is one of the most dangerous neurotoxins known. So far, it has become known primarily as a trigger of rarely occurring food poisoning, but the toxin could also be used for bioterrorist attacks. In the X-BAT project, the Franco-German consortium will investigate the suitability and production of new antitoxins that are effective against all ten known subtypes of botulinum toxin. To do this, it is necessary to obtain the antitoxins in a complex process.

X-BAT project outline (PDF, only available in German)