Work packages

WP1: Development of STOC-FREE MODEL

The aim of WP1, which is led by ONIRIS France, is to develop a method (STOC-FREE MODEL) for the quantitative comparison of the confidence in freedom of disease in different control programmes for non-regulated diseases in the EU.

The method STOC-FREE MODEL will allow the estimation of the confidence of freedom from infection and the associated uncertainty from heterogeneous data inputs available for different epidemiological units such as animal, herd, sector, region or country. The method will be developed and evaluated using BVDV in cattle as an example disease.

WP2: Development of STOC-FREE DATA

The objectives of this work package are

1.      To develop a generic data collection framework named STOC-FREE DATA, guided by the methodology developed in WP1, and

2.      To use this framework to provide a thorough description of the BVDV control/eradication programmes (CPs) conducted in defined EU MS and to, subsequently, collect specific quantitative information about the CPs.

WP3: Case studies and generalisation

In WP3, the objective is to validate and optimise STOC-FREE DATA and STOC-FREE MODEL that are developed in WP1 and WP2 in case studies that are conducted by all partners.

WP4: Communication and dissemination

In WP4, which is led by FLI, Germany, the consortium develops a communication and dissemination plan with input from communication experts from the organisations involved in the project. In addition, support will be sought from EFSA to facilitate effective dissemination strategy to the Commission and MS.

WP5: Project coordination and management

The STOC-FREE project will be coordinated by UU, the Netherlands. A project team will be formed that consist of all partners of the consortium together with the beneficiary’s staff member (from UU) that is responsible for administrative and financial issues related to the project. As part of the project coordination and management, the coordinator will be the primary contact person for all correspondence between the consortium and EFSA. The coordinator will plan both the start, interim and final meeting with EFSA, will initiate and coordinate the annual face-to-face meetings and will coordinate the bi-monthly teleconferences that will be conducted throughout the duration of this project. The project coordinator will be in close contact with the WP leaders, will control the project planning and will ensure that the deliverables are finalised in time. In addition, all administrative and financial work that is foreseen in this project will be conducted as part of this WP.