title: DISCONTOOLS: a database to identify research gaps on vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics for the control of infectious diseases of animals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The public and private sector in the EU spend around €800 million per year on animal health and welfare related research. An objective process to identify critical gaps in knowledge and available control tools should aid the prioritisation of research in order to speed up the development of new or improved diagnostics, vaccines and pharmaceuticals and reduce the burden of animal diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we describe the construction of a database based on expert consultation for 52 infectious diseases of animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For each disease, an expert group produced a disease and product analysis document that formed the basis for gap analysis and prioritisation. The prioritisation model was based on a closed scoring system, employing identical weights for six evaluation criteria (disease knowledge; impact on animal health and welfare; impact on public health; impact on wider society; impact on trade; control tools). The diseases were classified into three groups: epizootic diseases, food-producing animal complexes or zoonotic diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highly ranked diseases in the prioritisation model comprised mostly zoonotic and epizootic diseases with important gaps identified in vaccine development and pharmaceuticals, respectively. The most important outcome is the identification of key research needs by disease. The rankings and research needs by disease are provided on a public website ( www.discontools.eu ) which is currently being updated based on new expert consultations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As such, it can become a reference point for funders of research including the European Commission, member states, foundations, trusts along with private industry to prioritise research. This will deliver benefits in terms of animal health and welfare but also public health, societal benefits and a safe and secure food supply.
authors.affiliation: International Federation for Animal Health Europe, Avenue de Tervueren 168, box 8, 1150, Brussels, Belgium. declanjobrien@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scudamore
authors.affiliation: Avia-GIS, Risschotlei 33, 2980, Zoersel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charlier
authors.affiliation: International Federation for Animal Health Europe, Avenue de Tervueren 168, box 8, 1150, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delavergne
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D019155:Veterinary Drugs; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines; D019155:Veterinary Drugs
keywords: Animal disease; EU; Prioritisation; Research needs