COST Training Schools aim at widening, broadening and sharing knowledge relevant to the Action’s objectives through the delivery of intensive training on a new and emerging subject. They can offer familiarisation with unique equipment or expertise that are typically to the benefit of ESR, although not exclusively. They are not intended to provide general training or education.
CALL for the 2014 Training School (Working Group 1)
01-03/09/2014
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) and T. saginata (beef tapeworm) cysticercosis (CC)/taeniosis are zoonoses of public health importance, with significant economic impacts on the health and meat (pork and beef) sectors within and outside the EU. Despite increased research efforts, an important number of gaps remain. For more than one third of the member states, data on occurrence of porcine/bovine/human CC and taeniosis are missing. Many questions remain on transmission dynamics, infection development/course and clinical manifestations.
The main objective of Working Group 1 (WG1) is to characterize the epidemiology of Taenia spp. within and outside the EU.
In the first year of the Action, raw data (on disease occurrence, risk factors, costs etc.) from all member states will be collected and a system will be put in place to collect data from following years. To support these country studies, a training school is organized at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, in order to increase the capacity in epidemiological research in all member states. This specific training will focus on data collection and management to ensure a correct collection of epidemiological information.
Host institution
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, www.itg.be
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Preliminary Program
Practical information
Instructors
Brecht Devleesschauwer:
Brecht holds an MSc in Veterinary Medicine and an MSc in Statistics. He has research experience in public health and computational epidemiology, including methodological research, (Bayesian) data analysis, agent-based modeling, burden assessment (public health + economy), risk assessment, statistical programming in R and BUGS, and data collection & validation. Furthermore, he is specialized in neglected tropical and zoonotic diseases, especially taeniosis and cysticercosis.
Alberto Allepuz:
Since 2003, Alberto is lecturer of epidemiology and preventive veterinary medicine at the Veterinary School of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and researcher at Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA in Spain). He gained a PhD in Medicine and Animal Health in 2008.His research focuses on animal disease epidemiology and control strategies. He has experience with the design and implementation of epidemiological studies, surveillance and spatio-temporal modeling.
Suzanne Smit:
Suzanne holds a MSc in Veterinary Medicine and a MSc in Bioscience Engineering. She has experience with zoonotic diseases and epidemiology, including methodological research, (Bayesian) data analysis, disease burden assessment, and statistical programming in R and BUGS.
Who can apply
The applicant needs to have at least an MSc degree. The applicant should be engaged in a research programme or be employed by or officially affiliated to a public or private institution from a COST Country or Near Neighbours Country (NNC). Other participants of CYSTINET can also apply.
Applications from early stage researchers (ESR: with at least a PhD and up to 8 years of experience after the PhD*) aiming to contribute to the working group 1 country studies will be privileged and gender balance will be taken into consideration.
Financial support
Rules:
- The reimbursement rate per day is EUR 160 maximum
- Up to EUR 300 may be attributed for the travel expenses
- Own input might be needed
Before the respective training school takes place, each trainee entitled to reimbursement must receive a Grant letter, mentioning the dates and place of the event and the fixed amount of the Grant.
After the Training School, a ‘Payment Request Form’ mentioning the dates and the place of the event, the fixed amount of the Grant, and the banking information of the trainees must be signed by the trainees, in order for the payment to be processed.
Trainees eligible for reimbursement are*:
- Trainees from COST countries
- Trainees from approved NNC institutions
- Trainees from approved European RTD Organisations
Trainees not eligible for reimbursement are*:
- Trainees from approved IPC institutions
- Trainees from approved International Organisations and European Commission
- Any other trainees not specifically mentioned as being eligible.
* For more details, please consult the COST guidelines (COST Vademecum): http://www.cystinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/COST_Vademecum_Part_1.pdf
How to apply
- Register in e-COST: https://e-services.cost.eu/?module=user&action=signupForm
- Prepare the following supporting documents (make ONE PDF file): a) CV, b) Motivation letter, c)Letter of recommendation from your supervisor/head of unit
- Fill-in the application form and submit the prepared documents (CV, motivation letter and letter of recommendation) as ONE PDF file in the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f6VbpHyhhUAeE1Gu7CNHz_oCiKbFuLyU_0lw6tNQyas/viewform?usp=send_form
Timelines
Launch training school call: 26/06/2014
Deadline for application submission: 25/07/2014
Announcement of selected candidates: 01/08/2014
Additional information
COST Vademecum (part 1): http://www.cystinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/COST_Vademecum_Part_1.pdf
Practical information regarding:
Directions Brussels Airport – ITM
For more information please sent an email to cystinettd1302@itg.be