The EUROLEISH network: an exercise in partnership.
The EUROLEISH network arose in 1989 as a spontaneous initiative from contract holders funded by the health component of the Science and Technology for Development programme of the European Commission (EC). Leishmaniasis projects from other programmes (International Scientific Co-operation and Avicenna) joined the network later on. The network has three central objectives: to improve interactions between laboratory and field scientists; to rank the queries raised by health services in order of importance for research; and to develop partnerships between European countries and between these and developing countries. The EUROLEISH network is run consensually by the contract-holders and meets yearly, the subject of each meeting alternating between biology (in Europe) and epidemiology (in an endemic country). Presently, the network comprises 66 contract-holders from 18 projects in 28 countries, with a research budget of 4.6 million ecus during the Third EC Framework Programme (1990-1994). The next main issue to be addressed by the network will probably be the strengthening of thematic research, by promoting 'bridge building' between projects at regional level.
Le Ray
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Laboratory of Protozoology, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium.
Maingon
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Guizani
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D005544:Forecasting; D007255:Information Services; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007896:Leishmaniasis; D012106:Research