Zoonoses are defined according to the Directive 2003/99/EC which indicates that it is so called, any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible between animals and humansdirectly or indirectly, highlighting that the transmission mechanisms are very varied and sometimes complex.
In recent years, the number of cases of some zoonoses has increased. Of the possible causes, globalization comes firstimplying an exponential increase in the international movement of both people and goods, making it easier for communicable diseases to spread.
What is CAIZEM?
The Board of Directors has taken note of the creation of the Andalusian Research Center for Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (Caizem) following the agreement for its creation, signed in November 2024 between the Junta de Andalucía, the University of Córdoba (UCO) and the Biomedical Research Foundation of Córdoba (Fibico). This center was created in response to growing concerns about diseases and infections transmitted directly or indirectly between animals and humans West Nile fever oh to monkeypoxthat cause public health problems.
Signed by the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, University and Sustainability, the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), the UCO and Fibico; The agreement stipulates that the new center will not have a physical headquarters, although it will have resources and research facilities from the University of Córdoba or FIBICO, and that it aims to become an international center. national reference in the field of research into zoonoses and emerging diseases.
Thus, the four ministries, the Andalusian Health Service and the University of Córdoba undertake to finance this self-financing center at the outset and for a period of three years, for a total amount of 120,000 euros per yearat a rate of 20,000 euros each, always in accordance with their budgetary availability.
This center will improve the efficiency of public management of research in an area that has gained importance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, because on the one hand it will allow cooperation, coordination and the sum of the efforts of Member States. research teams who carry out their activities in the field of health, public health, animal health and the environment; and on the other hand, the involvement in the Caizem and in the projects generated by the largest number of thematic areas, research staff and teams of the Center, as well as other actors of the Science-Technology-Business System and especially the Andalusian knowledge system.
Thus, by applying the ‘One Health’ approach, Caizem will make it possible to approach public health research activities with a new approach compared to other existing scientific structures, with a multidisciplinary character thanks to the participation of health professionals, public health experts, agricultural engineers and veterinarians from the signatory entities, and with a consultancy and expert advice aspect in the fields of health, public health, animal health and environment.
The agreement sets out ten purposes and objectives of Caizem, starting with developing a top research in the field of zoonoses and emerging diseases of animal origin or vector-bornewhich could have important implications in the field of health and human public health with a ‘one health’ perspective and which will contribute to the development of the R&D&I priority lines of the Health R&I Strategy, from the EIDIA and the S4 Andalusia 2021 -2027 (Smart Specialization Strategy for the Sustainability of Andalusia), as well as all those at the autonomous, national and European community levels who influence the centre’s objectives.
Thus, the center will set up the appropriate mechanisms for transferring the research results to the public health system of Andalusia, to the agents of the Andalusian knowledge system, to the productive sector and to the corresponding authorities, with the aim of positive impact on health and public health.
Cooperation
Caizem will also promote the interinstitutional cooperation in biomedical research at local level to achieve better results and with higher levels of efficiency; In addition to promoting the training as a researcheras well as the exchange of professionals between the entities that compose it, with the aim of facilitating the meeting and sharing of knowledge that benefits research. In the same line, it will support collaboration and cooperation with other centers and researchers in Andalusia, national and international, through the creation and participation in thematic and other networks. cooperative formulas research related to their field of work.
The center may organize scientific meetings, conferences, seminars and other similar activities whose themes are related to research in its field of activity. It will also develop an active communication and dissemination policy of its activities in society and participate in all areas related to these objectives. Finally, the agreement establishes, among other things, the objectives of the Caizem in order to prepare itself scientific-technical reports in emergency situations to support the various authorities in making decisions to protect health, public health, animal health and the environment.
Betting on research
Caizem joins the commitment of the Andalusian government to research and trainingcarried out with a series of ordered actions in legal, organizational and infrastructural areas, aimed at promoting Andalusia’s leadership in these areas. In this sense, the following have been developed thematic research centers: the Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Cabimer); the Andalusian Cellular Reprogramming Laboratory (Larcel), in collaboration with Michigan State University; the Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía Center for Genomics and Oncological Research (Genyo), as well as the Center of Excellence in Research on Innovative Medicines in Andalusia (Medina Foundation).
Also different technological platformsamong which it is worth highlighting for its uniqueness the Biobank of the Andalusian Public Health System, which integrates, among others, the Bank of Cellular Lines and the DNA Bank, the Genomics and Bioinformatics Platform of Andalusia (GBPA) and a network of laboratories Public GMP for the manufacture of advanced therapy medicinal products with pharmaceutical standards.